The Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) has said the long-term edge of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry will rest on workforce quality, expertise, innovation, and flexibility, rather than natural resources alone. OGTAN President Chris Osarumwense made this known on Wednesday at a media briefing in Abuja.
With the global energy terrain shifting fast, he noted that the need for professionals who can apply technology and deliver operational excellence has grown sharply. He described talent and skills development as a core strategic priority. Osarumwense announced that OGTAN will stage its 2026 Human Capacity Development Conference and Trainers’ Fair from August 25 to 27, 2026, at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Warri, Delta State.
He said the summit will centre on developing a workforce that can compete globally and keep Nigeria’s oil and gas industry strong and sustainable. OGTAN was established under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, NOGIC Act, and is backed by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, to coordinate training and skills growth across the sector, he added.
The 2026 edition carries the theme “Empowering People. Driving Performance, Shaping the Future of the OIL & GAS Industry.” Osarumwense explained that the theme signals OGTAN’s resolve to equip workers with knowledge, technical skills, and digital capabilities needed for higher productivity, innovation, local content expansion, and long-term industry growth.
The three-day gathering will assemble industry executives, policy makers, regulators, operators, service companies, training academies, universities, and young professionals. Key activities lined up include strategic industry dialogue sessions on workforce gaps, skills shortages, leadership growth, talent retention, digital transformation, and the changing nature of work in energy.
Trainers’ Fair and Technology Exhibition, showcasing e-learning platforms, artificial intelligence tools, virtual and augmented reality simulators, and competency tracking systems, are also part of the lined-up activities for the conference. Other activities include youth and talent development tracks, innovation competitions, career guidance sessions, and networking with senior industry leaders.