The Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP), has initiated plans to improve public knowledge of natural gas by developing a new curriculum to be taught in monotechnics and the College of Education.
It also inaugurated a Technical Working Group (TWG) on Wednesday to achieve this plan.
The group is tasked with developing a specialized training curriculum aimed at equipping graduates with essential skills for entrepreneurship in the gas sector.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ambassador Nicholas Agbo Ella, who inaugurated the TWG, noted that technical education has remained stagnant despite global advancements in innovation and technology.
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.
“The world is moving forward, and so must we”, he said. “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”.
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.
The curriculum will cover all aspects of the gas value chain, including technical skills, commercial knowledge, logistics, and health, safety, security, and environmental standards.
The timeline for submitting the curriculum is set for 15th November, 2024.
In addition to improving technical education, the Permanent Secretary also announced a partnership between NGEP and the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) 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 the benefits of such a system, noting that it eliminates 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”.
One key tool in achieving energy-smart cities, he said, is the National Building Code, which is currently under review.
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 TWG, tasked with submitting its report by 15th November, 2024 will assess current gas distribution systems in other countries, review the materials used in gas installations, and recommend safety guidelines for the handling and use of gas in buildings”, he concluded.
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.
He highlighted that the TWG’s focus will include developing policy guidelines, training standards, and a professional code of practice for gas installations in residential buildings across the country.
“This is a significant milestone in our joint efforts to ensure that the Federal Government’s initiatives on gas expansion are efficiently implemented in the housing sector. CORBON is committed to leveraging its expertise to ensure that gas infrastructure in buildings is safe, sustainable, and world-class”, Opaluwah stated.
With these initiatives, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources is setting the stage for a new era in both technical education and infrastructure development in Nigeria, aiming to position the country as a leader in gas technology and innovation.
