Cross River Govt. spends N700M to Train 2000 youths in Oil and Gas

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar 

The Cross River State Government has said that the state would spend seven hundred million Naira (N700M) on 2000 youths who will be participating in oil and gas training.

The disclosure was made by the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem in his at the youths empowerment on oil and gas training for 2000 youths of the state 

Ayambem stated that the Governor, Prince Bassey Edet Otu’s  administration places the empowerment,

development and prosperity of our youths at the heart of its People First agenda. “Today’s program is particularly significant because it brings opportunity directly to 2,000 young Cross Riverians through structured training and internationally relevant certification in the oil and gas sector”. 

He said, “The theme, “Skill Up in the Season of Sweetness,” speaks directly to the vision of a Cross River where young people are not merely beneficiaries of government programmes but active participants in the State’s economic transformation. 

Otu maintained that the oil and gas industry remains a major component of Nigeria’s economy, with opportunities extending beyond exploration and production to engineering, logistics, safety, environmental management, procurement, maintenance, data services and other specialised fields. 
According to him, “Our responsibility as a government is therefore to ensure that our young people acquire the knowledge, technical competence and professional credentials required to compete effectively for these opportunities”.

The Governor maintained that the initiative also aligns with the state commitment to human capital development and economic inclusion, stressing that the training of 2,000 youths through CPD-accredited Certificate and Diploma programmes represents an investment not only in individuals but in families, communities and the future productive capacity of Cross River State. 

He encouraged the beneficiaries to approach the opportunity with discipline, seriousness and a strong desire to learn.

He said, “A certificate should not be regarded as the destination; it should be a foundation for continuous professional development, entrepreneurship, innovation and meaningful participation in the wider economy”.

He assured young people that the Government of Cross River State will continue to support initiatives that expand access to skills, enterprise opportunities and productive employment. 

“We are building a State in which talent is recognised, skills are rewarded and young people are equipped to become employers, professionals and contributors to sustainable development” he stated.