NCDMB, Zigma train 50 certified crane operators

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has graduated 50 Nigerians as certified crane operators under a specialised training programme.

The programme, according to NCDMB, is aimed at addressing the shortage of skilled technical manpower in the nation’s oil and gas industry and strengthening indigenous capacity.

The four-week Crane Operations Operator Level I and II Training Programme, implemented in partnership with Zigma Limited, equipped participants with internationally recognised technical knowledge, practical operating skills and safety competencies required for crane operations across the oil and gas, construction and industrial sectors.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Felix Ogbe, represented by Mr. Halvin Okonmah, said the initiative forms part of the Board’s commitment to developing Nigerian professionals capable of meeting the industry’s growing technical manpower needs.

He said the programme aligns with the Board’s statutory mandate under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act(NOGICD) to build human capital, expand opportunities for Nigerians in specialised technical roles and deepen local participation in the energy sector.

According to him, the training will strengthen industry capacity while fostering innovation, partnerships and sustainable growth.

“This event will foster stronger partnerships, inspire fresh ideas and deepen the development of skilled local capacity for the benefit of our industry and our nation,” he said.

He urged the graduates to uphold the Board’s core values of patriotism, professionalism, integrity, creativity, passion and teamwork.

The Managing Director of Zigma Limited, Mrs. Funmi Ogbue, represented by the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Ojinika Mba-Kalu, described the graduation as a milestone in developing Nigeria’s technical workforce, stressing that the country’s industrial future depends on investments in skilled manpower.

She said participants received intensive classroom and practical training covering crane operating principles, lifting operations, equipment inspection, load handling techniques, signalling and communication, hazard identification, risk assessment, and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) standards. “This is a testament to what can be achieved when institutions, industry and individuals unite around a common purpose of building the capacity of Nigerians to compete, excel and lead within our nation’s oil and gas industry,” she said.

Ogbue added that Zigma would continue collaborating with government agencies and industry stakeholders to deliver more capacity-building programmes capable of producing globally competitive Nigerian professionals.

Presenting the project report, Zigma’s Project Manager, Amy Nwadiaro, disclosed that the programme attracted significant interest nationwide, with 355 applications received. Following a rigorous selection process, 65 applicants were shortlisted for screening, while 50 participants were eventually admitted into the training.

She said all 50 trainees successfully completed the programme, representing a 100 per cent completion rate.

“The response to this initiative was overwhelming. We received 355 applications, shortlisted 65 candidates for screening and admitted 50 participants, all of whom successfully completed the programme,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of the graduating trainees, Evidence Ojie described the programme as practical proof that Nigerian Content development extends beyond policy declarations to tangible investment in local talent.

He said the training provided participants with critical competencies in boom set-up, working range calculations, load chart interpretation and safety margins required for offshore and industrial crane operations.

According to him, the knowledge acquired would enable the graduates to compete effectively for technical roles on rigs, offshore platforms and industrial facilities both within Nigeria and internationally.

Industry stakeholders at the event also underscored the importance of certified crane operators in improving workplace safety, reducing operational accidents and enhancing efficiency in high-risk sectors such as oil and gas, construction and heavy industry.