Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, has raised concerns over a widening skills gap in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector, warning that the deficit could undermine the industry’s capacity to fully harness renewed investment inflows and exploration activities.
The Commission Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, made the call during a meeting with representatives of Robert Gordon University who visited the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja to explore partnership opportunities in capacity development.
Eyesan attributed the skills shortage partly to a prolonged downturn in exploration activities in previous years, a development she said had significantly affected technical manpower, particularly geologists and other critical specialists in the upstream sector.
She noted, however, that recent policy reforms and renewed investor confidence following the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act, alongside reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, were beginning to revive exploration activities in the country.
“Alongside these investments comes the opportunity for technology transfer and infrastructure development. However, the major challenge remains human capacity development,” Eyesan said.
She warned that without deliberate intervention, Nigeria risks a widening mismatch between industry demand and available technical expertise.
“While there may be long-term plans for broader capacity development, the immediate reality is that the industry has experienced a reduction in technical depth and opportunities in certain critical areas,” she stated.
“We must deliberately build a workforce that is fit for purpose and capable of meeting the technical demands of the evolving industry.”
The NUPRC boss identified human capital, financial capital and technology as the three critical pillars required to sustain growth and competitiveness in the sector, stressing the need for coordinated investment in all three areas.
She also highlighted a persistent disconnect between academia and industry, warning that failure to bridge the gap could slow down sectoral development.
“If industry, academia, regulators, and technology providers work together constructively, we will accelerate progress significantly. Without deliberate collaboration, we risk slowing development and shortchanging the system,” Eyesan added.
In her remarks, Vice Principal for Partnerships at Robert Gordon University, Donella Beaton, said the visit was driven by the institution’s interest in strengthening academic and industry collaboration across Africa.
She said the university was exploring opportunities in knowledge exchange, research development and capacity building, particularly in energy innovation and sustainability.
“The goal is not only in creating academic programmes, but in developing practical, industry-focused initiatives that deliver real impact and technical value,” Beaton stated.
The engagement reflects growing efforts to align Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas workforce development with global energy transition and technological advancement trends.
This article was originally posted at sweetcrudereports.com
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