The partnership agreement, reached during a recent visit by NPA delegation to PTI in Effurun, Delta, to explore a strategic partnership with the institute. According to the delegation, the partnership, aimed at strengthening technical capacity in Ghana’s oil and gas sector, was part of Ghana’s plan to build its centre of excellence for petroleum training by drawing knowledge from Nigeria’s over five decades of experience in hydrocarbon manpower development. Receiving the high-level delegation on behalf of the institute’s chief executive officer, Dr. Samuel Onoji, the director of Research and Development, Dr. Tina Isechei said the institute was ready to establish a mutually beneficial partnership with Ghana.
Onoji described the visit as timely and critical for regional solidarity in Africa’s petroleum industry. He noted that PTI was established in 1972 to develop technical manpower for Nigeria’s emergence as a major player in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and the global oil industry. The principal said the institute had trained over 50,000 personnel who were now contributing significantly to the oil and gas industry in Nigeria and beyond. “PTI is ready and glad to be of help to the Ghana National Petroleum Authority in every conceivable way, having gathered the expertise over the 54 years of the institute’s existence,” he said. Onoji attributed PTI’s enduring reputation to four pillars: expertise, experience, exclusivity and effectiveness, with a strong emphasis on practical, hands-on training.
He noted that PTI’s curriculum is certified by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and supported by specialised facilities and experienced instructors. According to him, the institute’s key areas of strength includes welding and fabrication, drilling and well control, National Skills Qualification (NSQ) certification, Skills Development Academy, firefighting, underwater welding, and research clusters. He invited the delegation to participate in PTI’s Annual International Conference on Hydrocarbon Science and Technology, which according to him, has promoted manpower development since 2023. Responding, leader of the Ghanaian delegation and director of Research at the NPA, Dr. Joseph Wilson describing the engagement as very enlightening.
Wilson said Ghana deliberately chose Nigeria as a senior partner in its quest for capacity development, citing longstanding bilateral ties and the need for stronger African cooperation. “We are here basically to deepen capacity. For reasons having to do with regional solidarity, Ghana decided to choose Nigeria as a senior partner instead of looking outside the continental shelf of Africa. “Nigeria, being our big brother, became our desired destination for us to seek technical assistance to set up our own centre of excellence,” he said.
He added that the proposed collaboration would cover legal frameworks, technical assistance, stakeholder engagement, consultancy services, human capital development and capacity building. Major highlight of the visit was the tour of PTI’s specialised facilities. Speaking at the rig operations facility, the director of Rig Operations, Lawrence Uti explained rig operations and drilling principles to the visitors. Also, the director of Flow Station, Austin Ogugu conducted the delegation through processes from the wellhead and manifold to separators and crude, gas and water chambers.
Other members of the Ghanaian delegation included an NPA director, Bridgette Obiri-Yeboah; its director of Policy, Mohammed Issah; the director of Commercial Services, Eunice Nyarko, as well as the director of Human Resources, Sedinam Mammara.
