World-class engineering design studios and an information and communication technology (ICT) hub were unveiled Thursday at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), along with their joint venture (JV) partners.

The facilities were designed and donated as part of the Nigerian Content Human Capacity Development (HCD) program, which has recently concentrated on equipping universities, strengthening institutions, and renovating a few technical and vocational schools throughout the nation in an effort to produce skilled craftsmen and technical labor required in the linkage sectors and the oil and gas industry.

Two cutting-edge Engineering Design Studios and a Main ICT Lecture Hall with 100 seats that is fully furnished with computers and smartboards are among the new facilities. “Visually stimulating collaborative workspace that fosters an environment where students can engage in group work, brainstorming sessions, and ideation meetings” is how the studios are intended to function.

A 200KVA diesel generator, a diesel storage tank, a generator house, a perimeter mesh wire fence, a borehole, an above water tank, a parking lot, shallow drainage, and landscaping are additional amenities.

The NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, stated during the ceremony that the studios and hub were established to support the Federal Government’s goal of developing skilled technical personnel to support operations in the oil and gas sector and its related industries.

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He pointed out that it is necessary to speed up the transfer of specialized skills through the development and modernization of academic facilities.

“We shall keep enhancing institutional capacity to equip our students with the requisite knowledge and skills needed to compete globally in the wake of the 4th industrial revolution where Artificial Intelligence, data science, Internet of Things, and robotics dominate,” stated the NCDMB boss, who was represented by Dr. Ama Ikuru, the Board’s Director in charge of Capacity Building.
The Board has upgraded numerous vocational schools and universities under its Technical and Vocational Education and Training Centers (TVETs) upgrade program, according to Engr. Ogbe, who recalled several NCDMB interventions in academic institutions to promote the acquisition of modern skills. The Board also stated that it believes in “the significance of education particularly the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses.”

According to Mr. Osagie Okunbor, SPDC’s Managing Director and Country Chair, the Engineering Design Studio and ICT Hub is a “very important human capital development project” that came about as a result of a successful partnership between SPDC and its joint venture partners, including NNPCL, SPDC, TotalEnergies, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), and NCDMB.

Okunbor revealed that FUTO was “selected to benefit from institutional strengthening in the catchment areas of SPDC’s Assa North Ohaji South Gas Development Project” and that the facility was in compliance with the related Nigerian Content Human Capacity Development Plan, as well as “in accordance with the provisions of the NOGICD [Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development] Act, 2010 and NCDMB’s HCD Guidelines of 2020.” Okunbor was accompanied by Igo Weli, General Manager, External Relations, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).