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The Federal Government, in partnership with the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Gas Expansion Programme, has concluded plans to improve public knowledge of natural gas by developing a new curriculum for monotechnics and the College of Education.
A technical Work Group (TWG) was also Inaugurated to that effect.
The group among other things is saddle with the responsibility of developing a specialized training curriculum aimed at equipping graduates with essential skills for entrepreneurship in the gas sector.
The TWG will focus on designing a comprehensive curriculum for training entrepreneurs in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Compressed Natural Gas, Liquefied Natural Gas, and Bio-Gas sectors.
However, the curriculum will cover technical skills, commercial knowledge, logistics, and health, safety, security, and environmental standards.
The timeline for submitting the curriculum is fixed for November 15, 2024.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ambassador Nicholas Agbo Ella, decried the state of technical education in the country.
He said despite global advancement in innovation, science and technology, technical education has remained stagnant.
He emphasised the need for Nigeria’s technical colleges, mono-technics and polytechnics to adopt a more dynamic curriculum, equipping students with the skills necessary to become entrepreneurs upon graduation.
He said, “The world is moving forward, and so we must. Graduates of technical colleges worldwide now possess soft skills that allow them to become entrepreneurs immediately after graduation. This partnership with NBTE will bridge the skill gaps in key sectors of the economy, especially in the gas industry.”
In addition to improving technical education, the Permanent Secretary also announced a partnership between NGEP and the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria to design policies for the reticulation of gas in buildings across Nigeria.
The goal is to create energy-smart cities, where utilities like gas, water, and electricity are efficiently distributed through reticulated systems.
Furthermore, Amb. Nicholas explained that such a system would eliminate the need for conventional gas cylinders and offers a metered gas supply system, similar to how electricity and water are distributed.
“This not only saves space and money but also enhances safety, with buried pipes and state-of-the-art safety equipment to prevent accidents.”
The TWG will also focus on reviewing the building code to ensure it includes best practices for gas reticulation safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.
The Chairman of Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria, Samson Opaluwah in his address, expressed optimism about the collaboration’s potential to elevate gas usage in buildings to international standards.
