Nigerian government’s quest of raising the bar in the nation’s Oil & Gas sector through the local content got a yesterday with announcement of a joint venture between the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL), and Korea-based Samsung Heavy Industries in setting up a N1.65billion training academy in Nigeria.
The specialized institution to be known as Samsung Nigeria Technology Academy (SaNTA), which will be sited at the LADOL Free Zone (LFZ) off the Apapa Pilotage District in Lagos, is expected to take off soon, said the business promoters.
Making the partnership deal public at a press conference in Lagos Monday, representatives of the two organizations said they both believe that Nigeria has a bright future and unlimited potentials which has
“driven both companies to invest in this new facility in advance and independently from any contracts”
.
LADOL is a fully indigenous oil and gas deep offshore base in the Lagos which incorporates the LADOL Free Trade Zone. Currently, it has an Floating, Production, Storage and Operation (FPSO) integration contract with Samsung.
Vice President of Samsung Corporation, Mr. Joong Chung, who addressed the media alongside the LADOL Executive Chairman, Mr. Ladi Jadesimi, disclosed that the academy, which is expected to gulp about $10 million, is meant for building capacity for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and also for export.
Mr. Chung who said the
academy is not for any immediate economic benefit, disclosed that the idea is in line with the corporation’s Corporate Social Responsibility, which he said goes beyond Korea, the corporation’s home country, to the international community.
He noted that when completed, the academy will undertake the training of experts on industrial welding and fabrication for the nation’s oil and gas sector. “We wish to grow local community through international expertise, for the benefit of the industry”, he added.
According to him, the corporation’s huge experience spanning over four decades in heavy construction would be brought to bear on the academy, designed to build capacity in Nigeria –particularly in the nation’s Oil & Gas sector.
Chung, also disclosed that the company has come to build a long lasting relationship in Nigeria, assured that the corporation has confidence in the Nigerian economy, which he said has huge potential in maritime and the the oil and gas sector in general.
Executive Chairman of LADOL, Mr. Ladi Jadesimi, also disclosed that the founding fathers of the base about 10 years ago came up with a vision to build a world-class logistic facility for the nation’s oil and gas sector as part of its contribution to the development of local content in Nigeria.
He noted that the Academy, which is to be located on the LADOL facility near the Apapa Ports Complex, which is designed to transfer technology, will train over 250 students annually in addition to training the trainers.
He stated that under the scheme, experts would be brought from Korea to train the students as well as some trainers, who would in turn train other Nigerians in the form of technology transfer.
“There is need to build adequate capacity to enable Nigerians participate substantially in the local content policy and to this extent, we will liaise with the Nigeria Contend Development and Monitoring Board in the recruitment of the trainees”, he said.
[Source: Vanguardngr]
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