NAPE Launches Academy to Bridge Oil Sector Skills Gap

The Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) has unveiled plans for an industry-backed academy to address the skills gap in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. This initiative responds to concerns regarding the disconnect between university education and the practical skills needed in the industry.

At the NAPE Academy Establishment Workshop in Lagos, NAPE President Mrs Olajumoke Ajayi emphasized that graduates often lack the practical exposure required by employers, perpetuating a cycle of inexperience. Ajayi noted the decline in structured industry training has created a gap between classroom learning and workplace readiness.

Nedo Osayande, Chairman of the NAPE Academy Planning Committee, stated that the academy aims to succeed the intensive graduate training programs previously offered by international oil companies. The proposed 18-month program will include technical instruction, artificial intelligence, data science, leadership training, and mandatory industry internships, with courses delivered collaboratively by academia and industry professionals.