Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) has been named the recipient of the 2023 Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) National Award of Excellence for Human Capacity Development in the Oil and Gas Industry.
This announcement comes just three days after SNEPCo achieved the milestone of exporting 1 billion barrels of oil from the Bonga field.
In the words of Mazi Onyechi, President of OGTAN, “SNEPCo has played a leading role in developing human capital in Nigeria through innovative programmes such as the SITP (Shell Intensive Training Programme) which has been a template for many human capital development programmes in the industry today.”
He also noted that “SNEPCo also developed the first generation of Nigerian deep-water engineers through the Bonga Field development.”
The Managing Director of SNEPCo, Mrs Elohor Aiboni, expressed her gratitude for the recognition, saying, “I commend the vision of the Oil and Gas Trainers’ Association of Nigeria to be the best learning services group in the industry and beyond because it aligns with SNEPCo’s aspirations in human development. And we will continue to work with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and OGTAN to grow in-country human capacity for the oil and gas industry.”
Mrs. Aiboni, who was represented at the event by SNEPCo’s Bonga Business Opportunity Manager, Mr Iyke Nnoaham, emphasized the importance of investing in staff development, stating that Shell regards its staff as its most valuable asset and is committed to “consistently develop the competences and capabilities of our people.”
SNEPCo, which pioneered Nigeria’s deep-water frontier with the launch of the Bonga field in 2005, operates with a workforce comprised of over 95% Nigerians.
The company has been instrumental in developing the knowledge and skills of Nigerian engineers through the Bonga project, which has advanced the country’s oil and gas sector.
In addition to its local manpower growth programmes, SNEPCo has also invested heavily in the development of local suppliers and materials, ensuring that Nigerians possess the necessary skills for key roles in the oil and gas industry.