The Akwa Ibom State Government has partnered with Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) to equip youths with specialised underwater welding skills, improve employability and strengthen indigenous participation in Nigeria’s offshore industry.
The initiative, which aligns with the Nigerian Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on job creation, capacity development and local content indigenisation, also advances Governor Umo Eno’s vision of equipping young people with skills for sustainable development in the 21st century.
The fully sponsored 20-week programme will cover training, accommodation, feeding and medical expenses for 93 youths, with 35 participants nominated from across the state’s 31 local government areas in the first batch.
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Speaking at the flag-off in Eket, the Dean of Commissioners and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mkpisong Frank Archibong, said the initiative reflected Governor Eno’s commitment to human capital development and preparing young people for emerging industrial opportunities.
He commended SEEPCO for investing in youth development, stressing that corporate investments must translate into meaningful benefits for host communities.
“We can coexist in a way that promotes harmony and mutual respect. We are not demanding or putting pressure on any company operating in our environment, but that does not mean the community should be ignored,” Archibong said.
He noted that mutually beneficial partnerships were essential to peaceful coexistence and sustainable development, urging companies to deepen community engagement and create opportunities for local people to acquire relevant skills.
Archibong also charged the trainees to demonstrate discipline, focus and commitment, noting that underwater welding could open up international employment opportunities for qualified practitioners.
In his remarks, the Base Manager of Ibom Developers FZE, an SEEPCO affiliate, Barrister Monday Umoh, commended the state government’s youth development vision and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to community-focused interventions.
Umoh explained that the sponsorship complemented SEEPCO’s corporate social responsibility initiatives in healthcare, education, electricity, road construction, borehole provision and support for women’s cooperative societies.
The Senior Base Manager of Sumedha Energy Limited, Engineer Fabian Ebri, described the programme as an investment in specialised skills, urging participants to uphold professional standards and strictly observe safety requirements.
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to youth empowerment, employment opportunities and constructive engagement with host communities.
Dr Grace Ofem, representing SEEPCO’s corporate social responsibility affiliate, VCare for Development Foundation, said the organisation supported sustainable development through healthcare, education, livelihoods, gender equality and social inclusion.
Responding on behalf of the participants, Nseobong George thanked the state government and SEEPCO, pledging that the trainees would take the opportunity seriously and use their skills to advance their careers and contribute to Akwa Ibom’s development.
The training is scheduled to commence at Subweb Technical Assembly Academy in Onne, Rivers State, in late October 2026. It will equip participants with skills in underwater welding, diving, structural welding and related safety operations.
Subject to successful completion of the required training and assessments, beneficiaries are expected to obtain relevant professional certifications.
Underwater welding supports the inspection, maintenance and repair of offshore oil and gas facilities, pipelines, vessels and other submerged infrastructure, offering specialised career opportunities in the marine and energy sectors.
