The Nation Newspaper

Tag: jobs

  • Bell Oil chief laments jobs’ export

    The Managing Director of Bell Oil & Gas, Mr. Kayode Thomas, has regretted that some firms still take  jobs abroad even when such could be done at home.

    He said it had become imperative for such firms to change or be compelled to do so to promote indigenous firms and create jobs.

    Thomas spoke when his firm’s  spool yard for Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) pipes was inaugurated in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Denzil Kentebe.

    NCDMB’s spokesman, Obinna Ezeobi, in a statement, said the spool yard manufactures pipes with diverse bends and angles, delivering liquids to various outlets at different temperatures and pressures, hence cannot be manufactured in conventional pipe mills.

    Ezeobi said the NCDMB chief praised Bell Oil and Gas for the investment, which came on the back of the Board’s Nigerian Content Equipment Component Manufacturing and Certification (NCEC) programme commenced under the leadership of the pioneer Executive Secretary, Dr. Ernest Nwapa.

    He described the NCEC’s initiative as laudable, pledging that the Board  would continue to implement the framework and other programmes geared towards encouraging investments and establishment of facilities in Nigeria.

    Kentebe noted that such facilities contribute to the Board’s vision to use the Nigerian Content as a vehicle for industrialisation and creation of employment and training for qualified Nigerians.

    He said the focus of the Board is to create shop floors that would train and empower Nigerians in all sectors of the industry, adding that NCDMB would continue to promote hands-on training in manufacturing, engineering, fabrication, marine, subsea, drilling and well services and all other activities.

  • Afmobi creates jobs with Palmplay

    Afmobi Nigeria’s team of experts have designed a wireless platform that will help employ Nigerians or make them entrepreneurs through a plethora of fun apps, games, movie, music, pictures and business content hosted on a magical fun box called Palmplay offlineTM.

    Afmobi has its business plan clearly mapped out for just the African market and hopes to create a content-rich wireless hub whereby Nigerians can download games, movie, music, apps and pictures without using their mobile data.

    In a statement, the firm said the name Palmplay offline TM has offline in it for a reason and that is because all the download on this wireless platform happens offline (without using mobile data), adding that useres’ mobile data is perfectly safe when the user enjoys premium content download over the wireless connection with amazing speed.

    It said the firm just completed the first training for young set of entrepreneur, adding that the training had about 20 persons that were trained on how to use the magic box called Palmplay Offlinetm and how to make steady income as an entrepreneur.

    “Palmplay offline TM boxes have bandwidth that can cover a given distance, which means users can enjoy contents from a supplying box within a given range. So, the business plan is to locate high traffic spots where there are clusters of people at any given time and install the box.

    “Palmplay freelance agent can maintain a steady stream of income by getting the Palmplay offlineTM boxes installed at different location where there are descent cluster of people such as tech vendor stores, super marts, hotels, campuses and others.  The more people connect and sign up on the platform they have access to download some contents for free while the paid ones ranges from between N10 and N100 depending on the content needs to be activated. As they are buying cards to activate them, the agent gets 10 per cent of every income generated from each spot created,” the statement explained.

    According to the firm, Afmobi is a mobile and internet tech services company with headquarters in Shenzhen, China and three other offices in Lagos, Accra, and Nairobi, Kenya.

     

  • Go for jobs not threatened by ‘robots’

    Go for jobs not threatened by ‘robots’

    The application of information communication technology (ICT) solutions has simplified the way man lives. From the development of steam power in the early 1800s to today’s digitally-enriched world, the impact of technology on employment is phenomenal. LUCAS AJANAKU writes on what to study to get a job. He also discusses jobs that cannot be taken over by ‘robots.’

    Disruptive technologies are noth-ing new. The impact of technology on employment is huge – consider the development of steam power in the 1800s to today’s highly digitalised world.

    What may be new is the speed, extent and unpredictability of modern digital technology-induced disruption. This rate of change is dramatically increasing.

    More importantly, these changes are impacting the employment opportunities at all levels. Having a university degree or entering a profession is no longer a guarantee of a rich and productive working career.

    So the question is: If you are about to enter the university or choose a career, what should you study or do in order to weather future technology-induced storms?

     

    Disruptive change

    Technology is changing the world including employment in a number of ways that are affecting many careers.

    Robotics and smart technologies are increasingly able to perform high level, cognitively complex tasks, which impact a lot of skilled jobs.

    For example, IBM is working with the Cleveland Clinic in the United States to train Watson (IBM’s “thinking” computer) to become board-certified in medicine.

    Similar technologies are also encroaching on other white-collar and professional jobs.

    Oxford University researchers have recently suggested that, in certain instances, the computerised results of complex non-routine cognitive tasks are superior to human “experts” because they do not have human biases.

    Their research on the likelihood of technology disrupting more than 700 occupation categories makes for gripping reading for those who take their future career prospects seriously.

    The researchers suggest that sophisticated digital technologies could substitute for approximately 140 million full-time knowledge workers worldwide in the near future.

    Anyone whose work can be outsourced to low-cost countries could also be at risk, such as we’ve already seen in manufacturing, medical radiology and even legal services.

    Accounting, engineering or architectural design services are also increasingly being offered from low cost countries at a fraction of the cost.

    With the global market size of outsourced services standing at more than $100 billion, the outsourcing industry is already big business.

     

    Choosing a career

    So what do you study or train in? There are a number of trades and professions that are likely to be more resilient to automation and/or outsourcing and can enable you to run your career like a business.

    A useful guide is to consider work that fulfils a number of criteria. These include the delivery of a service in real-time; being physically present at the point of service delivery; the need for a high degree of skill, training and experience, and the likelihood to be a sustained need for your service.

    For example, as an electrician, you have to be trained and certified to handle live electrical services as well as be on-site to do the job.

    It is also an excellent foundation for subsequent acquisition of complementary or supplementary skills and experience that reinforce your future employability prospects.

    You could expand into fields such as electronics, control systems, high voltage and industrial systems, communications or electrical engineering – anyone could open up rewarding career options as well as protecting your future earning potential.

    Other examples of careers that meet these criteria include nursing, physiotherapy, plumbing, special needs teaching, surveying, veterinary medicine, air traffic control, surgery or firefighting.

    All are highly skilled and hands-on, and are unlikely to be replaced by machines any time so soon.

    Even though many of these careers exist in constantly evolving environments that are themselves rapidly changing, the fundamentals remain: none are at high risk of being outsourced overseas or completely automated.

     

    Career planning

    Earning a university degree is increasingly becoming the default position of many school leavers in Nigeria, thus eliminating the point of difference a degree once offered. So holding a degree is no longer enough to guarantee you a job in the labour market.

    While the personal benefits of acquiring knowledge are indisputable, the hypothesis that attending a university will result in a net positive return in the investment in time and money is less so.

    So the challenge facing anyone at the start of their working life lies in finding a career that will be rewarding, fulfilling and, more importantly, resilient, not just resistant to change.

    Individuals wishing to be successful in their careers should expect to take a more deliberate and planned approach, and regard their career as their own business.

    Being employed is no different to running your own business, in that you are deriving an income from your one client – that being your current employer.

    Most importantly, while your current employer may dictate the terms of your employment, you should be the one in charge of your career.

    Employees need to think of themselves and their careers as if it were a business enterprise – that must be evolved, grown, sometimes re-directed and above all – protected.

    The question is: can you recognise these career-shaping changes before your employer notices them? If so, you’re well down the path of building career resilience.

     

    Jobs not threatened

     by robots

    According to the Oxford University report, these are jobs that are least likely to be taken by robots in the near future.

    The jobs are recreational therapists, supervisors of mechanics, repairers, installers, emergency management directors, mental health and substance abuse workers and audiologists

    The study went on to state factors which will make it difficult for certain jobs to be computerised in the near future. If your profession involves these, you are safe, at least for now.

    Finger dexterity: This is making precisely coordinated finger movements to manipulate very small objects.

    Awkward work spaces: This involves working in cramped environments which require getting into awkward positions.

    Originality: You are required to come up with unusual or unique ideas about a specific topic or to solve a problem.

    Fine arts: The knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose or produce pieces of music, dance, drama, or sculptures is innate and will continue to be a hot sell.

    Social intelligence: This is the process of being aware of other people’s reactions, bringing people together to reconcile differences, persuading people to change their minds or behaviour.

     

    Additional reports from mybroadband

     

  • Jobs coming with NLNG’s six vessels

    Jobs coming with NLNG’s six vessels

    Hundreds of jobs will be coming from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited as it takes delivery of its six vessels and constructs a dry-dock yard in Badagry, Lagos, writes EMEKA UGWUANYI.

    HUNDREDS of jobs are on the way as the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited takes delivery of its six new vessels.

    The six vessels were built at a cost of $1.6 billion in South Korea. Two of the ships are being built at the Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) while the other four are being built at Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI).

    The Nation learnt that each of the vessels will have at least 50 workers on board, including captains, engineers, seamen and other ancillary workers, such as caterers.

    Besides the workers on board the ships, there are other workers that would be employed at the company’s base in Bonny, Port Harcourt, Rivers State to handle other responsibilities that will arise from the fleet expansion, it was learnt.

    According to the company’s source, contrary to the initial schedule for delivery of the vessels, which would have started next year, the vessel will sail in from the last quarter of the year, indicating that the delivery of the ships will be taken earlier than scheduled in the contract.

    Some Nigerians were also taken to Korea for training on shipbuilding and management as well as other marine activities. Some indirect jobs are still being created as the NLNG in line with the Nigerian Content programme, insisted on use of some made in Nigeria products such as paints, furniture and cables leading to export of these materials to Korea. Some of the beneficiary companies include Berger Paints. With increase in production resulting from export of these made in Nigeria materials, the beneficiary companies will employ more hands to meet rising demand, the NLNG said.

    At least, over 400 jobs will be created by the time NLNG takes full delivery of the six vessels, the source said.

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria LNG Limited, Mr. Babs Omotowa, speaking on the company’s job creation achievements and the ones to be created by procuring six new vessels, noted that each construction year (when a new train is built), more than 2,000 jobs are created.

    He said: “Nigeria LNG Limited provided more than 2,000 jobs each construction year. Overall, the major sub-contractors employed about 18,000 Nigerians in technical jobs in the base project.

    “Through each Nigerian Content plan for its contracts, NLNG has promoted the development and employment of Nigerian manpower. For instance, 600 Nigerians will be trained in Nigeria and at the contractors’ (Hyundai and Samsung) shipyards in Korea as part of the Nigerian Content deliverables tied to the construction of six new LNG vessels by Bonny Gas Transport (BGT), a wholly owned subsidiary of NLNG.

    “Those 600 Nigerians, with enhanced skills in welding, hull assembly, pipe fitting, electrical, mechanical, painting and ship design will join the country’s workforce, providing a support base for technology transfer and industrialisation. Thirty-five of the Nigerian trainees are currently in Korea for participation in the ship construction and six Nigerians are already working as ship managers (two Production Managers, two Quality Assurance/Quality Control Managers and HSE managers) in the ship construction at the shipyards in Korea,”

    Besides, Omotowa the shipbuilding projects created indirect jobs as the company ensured that some made in Nigeria products such as paint, cables, anodes and furniture were exported to be used in the construction of the vessels. “The Nigerian Content commitment in the project, which is defined in a Memorandum of Agreement between NLNG, BGT and the shipyards (Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries), includes major initiatives such as the training and development of Nigerians (both in Nigeria and Korea) in various aspects of ship design and construction, the supply of materials such as paints, cables, anodes and furniture by Nigerian suppliers for the construction of the vessels, and feasibility study on the establishment of the first LNG ship dry-docking and ship repair yard.

    “Consequently, Berger Paints and Paints and Coatings MN have produced and exported over 350,000 litres of paints, Nexans Kabelmetal has shipped over 130,000 metres of low voltage cables and METEC West Africa has exported over 9000 pieces of Aluminium and Zinc sacrificial anodes – all to the ship yards in South Korea for use in newbuild vessels.

    “METEC West Africa and Nexan Kabelmetal through NLNG’s Nigerian Content initiatives have also undergone international class certification and inspection for the manufacture of and supply of sacrificial anodes and low voltage cables respectively to meet the requirements of marine applications.  Berger Paints Plc has increased its portfolio of paints and manufacture to international standards, having installed state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and acquired additional production equipment. Paints and Coatings Manufacturers Nigeria Plc has acquired additional mixers and laboratory equipment and gone ahead to become the first company in Africa to receive the Inter Marine Organisation’s Intershield 300 Ballast Tank Coating certification. Holborn Nigeria Limited developed capacity to manufacture 12 inch (30mm) diameter High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes, which had hitherto not been manufactured in the country.

    “Furthermore, deliberate technology transfer initiative has enabled Waste Pipe and Drainage (WPD) to safely and successfully complete the change out of all nominated compressed air dryer bed desiccants in U-4700 (14 vessels in total). This makes WPD the second Nigerian contractor with this level of proficiency that can compete with the previous sole contractor (CAKASA) in LNG Trains molesieve bed change out activity,” he said.

    The NLNG is also facilitating the construction of dry-dock yard in Lagos. The project expected to cost about $1.8 billion is being sited at Badagry and according to the Nigeria LNG, it is as large as 185 football fields put together. The project will also create over 2000 jobs at the construction stage and over 1000 direct jobs on completion.

    The NLNG is looking for a core investor in the project. The Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) have stated their preparedness to invest $30 million in the project and will also provide technical support. Discussions for takeoff of the construction are ongoing. Welders, civil and mechanical engineers, ship maintenance and repair technicians and other ancillary workers will be needed from the construction to completion and afterwards, it was learnt.

    On the ship dry-dock and repairs yard, Omotowa said: “Nigeria LNG in partnership with Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries reached out to the investment community on December 9, 2014 in Lagos, to promote the development of a ship repair and maintenance yard in Nigeria – Badagry Ship Repair and Marine Engineering Limited (BSME) – that will be sited at Badagry after feasibility studies were carried out at various sites (Onne, Bonny, Olokola, Badagry, Ogogoro Island, Ladol, among others).  Currently, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that will manage the development of Badagry Ship Repair and Marine Engineering Limited (BSME) is being put together.

    “BSME will bridge the gap created by the absence of an operational dockyard to cater for the repair and maintenance of Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC), LNG carriers, large and medium size carriers, drilling rigs and supports vessels. This is one of the Nigerian Content deliverables on the BGT Plus project.”

    The building of the dockyard becomes imperative considering that NLNG has the largest fleet in sub-Saharan Africa. When the project comes on, the NLNG will stop taking its vessels overseas for maintenance and repairs, thereby creating jobs and wealth in-country, the company said.

    The Nigeria LNG has 23 LNG vessels on long-term charter for its six-train operation, and one domestic LPG vessel. All 23 LNG vessels are utilised on an integrated scheduling basis. They load at NLNG’s terminal in Bonny, for ex-ship deliveries to buyers in Middle East, Asia, Europe, South America, and Gulf of Mexico including ports in Mexico and the United States.

    The LPG vessel is used for LPG delivery in the Nigerian market. With the six new vessels being built in South Korea, the fleet will expand to 29 vessels.

     

  • Jobs, terrorism top Nigerian delegates’ discussion at ILO talks

    Jobs, terrorism top Nigerian delegates’ discussion at ILO talks

    Worsening terrorism in Northeastern part of  Nigeria,  youth unemployment were among issues that topped the Federal Government’s agenda to the 104th International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conference.

    Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Clement Iloh, who led the delegation, said these emerging challenges and solutions called for more introspection among member states, especially the dynamic roles culture, religion, politics and ethnicity, among others, plays in fostering development.

    Iloh reminded the conference of the adverse effect of terrorism with implications for discrimination, stigmatisation, abduction, kidnapping, and rape at work, among others. He said: “There was need for international collaboration to fashion out a framework that would address these hydra headed problems amongst member states in the world.”

    President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Waba, who spoke on the occasion urged world leaders to embrace the spirit of unity in the current struggle by the tripartite body that make up the ILO, the government, employers and workers to fight anti-workers’ activities in developing countries.

    He said: “We call on world leaders to unite in the spirit of unity to confront anti-workers’ activities. We are concerned with the increasing challenges which the emerging forms of employment relationships such as contract staffing, casualisation, part time work and employees without borders pose to developing countries in confronting the basic issues of fundamental principles and rights at work.”

    Comrade Waba added that the issue of dealing with the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in some crises affected countries such as the Northeast of Nigeria is a current challenge that needed to be urgently addressed within the centenary framework.

    Also, President of Trade Union Congress, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, said the country is in need of international aid to confront insurgency ravaging some parts of the country. He said: “We need international support to confront and to address the hydra headed problems associated with terrorism, insurgency and other forms of political upheavals with implications for discrimination, stigmatisation, abduction, kidnapping and rape at work.”

    On child labour, the National Women Commission Chairperson of TUC, Comrade Oyinkansola Olasanoye said: “Our new investigative report in Nigeria shows the need for a coherent policy approach that tackles child labour and the lack of decent jobs for youths.

    “Keeping children in school and receiving good education until at least the minimum age of employment will determine the whole life of a child. It is the only way for a child to acquire the basic knowledge and skills needed for further learning, and for her or his future working life.”

  • Oil price crash takes toll as firms cut pay, jobs

    Oil price crash takes toll as firms cut pay, jobs

    Some servicing companies are slashing workers’ salaries because of paucity of funds. Others are retrenching.

    Besides, many have placed an embargo on employment following the rising cost of operation.

    The development follows the downturn in the global oil market, which  has made it difficult for them to make profit and execute new projects.

    The companies have sacked 6,000 of their 20,000 workers to stay afloat. But  operational challenges caused by dwindling oil fortune are compelling them to further embrace cost-cutting measures.

    The President, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Emeka Ene, said  these challenges are forcing the firms to restructure their operations.

    They are facing a cash crunch that has not made them execute new contracts.

    Ene said the problems could force many firms out of business if nothing is done.

    One of the problems, Ene said, is the  directive that oil servicing firms should cut down cost of contract by 30 per cent without  considering the implications on their businesses.

    He said: “A number of our members, who are trying to cope with the situation are now laying off staff; others are slashing salaries and no new employment is being generated because there are no new projects to execute.

    “ Besides, oil exploration and production companies have directed our members to reduce the cost of oil  services contracts by 30 per cent. These were the contracts we got when the price of crude oil was over $100. Now we are being ordered to slash the contracts’ cost by 30 per cent, forgetting that we have spent a lot of money to procure equipment for the job.”

    Ene said it had been very tough for the industry, which is finding it difficult to mitigate the effects of crashing oil prices.

    According to him, operators in the servicing industry were given a blanket instruction, by oil exploration firms, to slash prices of services by 30 per cent instantly.

    “ This strategy is short-sighted and focused on destroying Nigerian companies, who are now being forced to either lay off staff or cut down salaries of their workers. The profit margins of these companies during the boom  years of $100 a barrel lie between 20 and 30 per cent for the most profitable ones. However, there are firms with lesser profit margins,” he said.

    Ene said a greater collaboration, among industry players was expected to enable them manage cost well.

     

  • Fed Govt hails ITF jobs plan

    The Federal Government has applauded the efforts of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in producing a template for job creation.

    Minister of Trade and Investment Dr. Olusegun Aganga gave the commendation on a  visit to ITF headquarters Jos.

    The minister said: “The National Skill Gap Survey Plan of ITF is a positive initiative that is capable of solving the unemployment crisis facing the country.

    Continuing, Dr. Aganga said, “For the first time in the country, ITF through the ministry, is coming up with a National Skills Gap Survey in the country in other to meet up with the Skills gap in each sector of the economy of the country.

    “The survey is aim at identifying those various vacant gaps that required competent skill personnels needed which an institution like ITF is in the best position of training them to work”

    He maintained that, various academic institutions like the Universities and the Polytechnic will have to include the Survey plan in to their school Curriculum which means that Jobs will be created in future.

    He lament that, “there are so many graduates out there, and so many vacancies out there but lack of skills has been the problem”

    The minister disclosed that Dangote Group of Companies is building an Integrated Petro-chemical Plant in Lagos which, after completion, will end the country’s importation of petroleum products.

    Also, he added, the country will become an exporter of the products.

    Aganga said that the country needs about 5,000 petro-chemical engineers in the country to work in that industry.

     

  • Jobs of the day

    VACANCIES IN LEADING BANK IN NIGERIA

    A leading multinational company is in search of very senior professionals with sales experience in various business areas particularly in FMCG and Banking Industries. The company is seeking to recruit candidates with diverse experience and pedigree for the following roles:

    GENERAL QUALIFICATION/RECUITMENT

    • Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Banking and Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or/and other relevant discipline.
    • A Master’s degree or/and professional qualification will be added advantage.
    • Excellent leadership and communication skills.
    • Strong commercial, sales and negotiation skills.

     

    SALES AND MARKETING HEAD-(ABUJA, BENIN, IBADAN, PORT HARCOURT) (Ref. No.: SSMH)

    EXPERIENCE:

    Minimum of 15 years cognate experience in marketing of Banking or Financial Product or selling experience in FMCG Industry.

    Candidates should have attained the level of AGM, DGM, GM level in top banks and have a proven track record of managing regions/zones for a minimum of 5 years at this level.

    • Competency in financial analysis.

     

    RESPONSIBILTIES:

    • Specific responsibilities will include but not limited to:
    • Identifying and evaluating new business and channel opportunities.
    • Continuously seeking market opportunities, conditions and associated business development.
    • Developing sales and marketing strategies and plans in line with the company’s corporate objectives.
    • Co-ordinating, supervising and motivating sales teams to achieve target.
    • Conducting performance analysis on existing product with a view to identifying and monitoring market trends.
    • Ensuring leads/prospects are signed on and closure of business prospects in line with organizational procedures.

     

    OPERATIONS HEAD (ABUJA, BENIN, IBADAN, PORT HARCOURT) (Ref. No.:  SOPH)

     

    EXPERIENCE:

    Minimum of fifteen (15) years banking operations experience with at least 5 years at AGM, DGM or GM level in top banks and have experience in managing clusters or regions.

    • Competency in strategic and financial analysis.
    • Good experience in credit management.
    • Experience in evaluating and/or implementing compliance and processes.
    • Proven track record of delivering growth.
    • Proven experience in managing a fast growing and successful business.

     RESPONSIBILITIES:

    • Specific responsibilities will include but not limited to:
    • Developing and driving segment of the company’s long and short term revenue growth strategies.
    • Providing strategic direction and partnering with Sales Directors for the overall operations of various sales units to achieve the organization’s business plans.
    • Leading commercial business performance management and decision (s) support.
    • Providing operational requirement and support.

     

    HOW TO APPLY

    Qualified candidates should e-mail their resume, possibly with a scanned passport photograph, within two weeks of this publication to professional.multinational@gmail .com using the reference of the positions as the subject of your e-mail.

    All applications will be treated in strict confidence and only short listed candidates will be contacted.

     

     

     

  • Create jobs, Fashola counsels LASPOTECH graduates

    Create jobs, Fashola counsels LASPOTECH graduates

    Last Thursday’s convocation at the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH),  Ikorodu, was the last for some of the principal officers and government functionaries, who graced the occasion.

    It was the valedictory convocation for the Rector, Dr Abdulazeez Lawal, whose tenure ends in June. It also served as the last for the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, as moderator of the institution.  He leaves office on May 29 after a two-term tenure of eight year  as governor.

    Though not present at any of the convocations held during his tenure, Governor Fashola’s speech was read by his representative, the Special Adviser on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga. The crux of his message to the 7,045 graduates was for them to embrace entrepreneurship rather than add to the number of unemployed youths in Nigeria in their bid to get ready-made jobs.

    Fashola reminded them that the jobs they would seek were created by entrepreneurs years ago and urged them to put their training to good use.

    He said: “We want our students to leave school as well-rounded people, able to stand on their own, able to not only work, but create jobs for others.  The unemployment rate in Nigeria is quite high, with data pointing to half of the youth population being unemployed.

    “The Lagos State Polytechnic has given you the tools you need to excel in your fields.  Now, I want to encourage you to have the confidence not to settle for just any job, but do that which you have learnt and also create you own small and medium enterprises.”

    The governor also urged the students not to be in a hurry to get rich, but to be committed to hard work.

    “I want to encourage you to be focused as you go out into the real adult world. Don’t get distracted by the pursuit of money or fame. Focus on doing good work and making a difference in the lives of others and the society,” he said.

    In his speech, the rector thanked the  government for its support and acknowledged the role played by government agencies, particularly the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in enhancing physical infrastructure and manpower development in the institution.

    He said 10 of the 15 projects ongoing on the campus were funded by the TETFund, as well as providing over N2 billion for staff development.

    Lawal, however, appealed to the  government to provide funds to build the institution’s administration block, and increase its subvention.  According to him,  the polytechnic is forced to use the school’s library building as a makeshift administrative building.

    “Although we forwarded our drawings and bills in respect of the proposed administration block to the state government secretariat, Alausa, in line with a letter we received recently, we are yet to have any response on the issue.  The present arrangement, where we use a lot of space in the library block as administrative offices is indeed, not ideal and quite unbecoming of an institution of our standing.  To this end, we will sincerely appreciate any urgent assistance we could get from the state government or our funding agencies or other stakeholders in this regard,” he said.

    The highpoint of the event was the presentation of prizes to outstanding students. Zainab Adedipe, a Chemical Engineering National Diploma (ND) graduate and Evelyn Nenuwa, a Science Laboratory Technology (Chemistry) Higher National Diploma (HND) graduate, won many of the 89 prizes presented.  Evelyn, who won prizes worth over N155,000, had a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.89; while Zainab had a CGPA of 3.92.

    In an interview, Evelyn, who also made a distinction during her ND, attributed her success to God and her parents.

    “I owe my gratitude to God because without him, I will be nowhere. I am indebted to my parents for their moral and financial support,” she said.

    She also said her ability to manage her time well despite her involvement in politics and church activities helped.

    “Students should learn to face their studies very well.  I engaged myself in politics as a student.  I was the Speaker of the National Association of Technology Students for the School of Technology before SLT was placed under the School of Applied Sciences.  I combined that with my academics.  I was also involved in church activities.  It was not very easy, but I am grateful to God everything turned out well for me,” she said.

    Dignitaries at the event included the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye and former registrar, Princess Olabisi Kosoko.

     

  • Oil price crash: 6,000 jobs gone

    Oil price crash: 6,000 jobs gone

    NO fewer than 6,000 technical workers have been sacked in the last eight months, following the fallen oil price.

    They include geologists, engineers, artisans, and fitters in the oil servicing firms.

    President, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Emeka Ene, told The Nation that the body was feeling the price crash pinch, going by the gale of retrenchment carried out in the oil service segment.

    He said:“The oil servicing companies employ 20,000 technical workers, while the indirect workers are around 100,000. These are people that, by virtue of their services, do not have direct dealings with members of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria. Thirty per cent of 20,000 will give us 6,000 plus.”

    He said the fall in price of crude oil from over $100 per barrel to $40 per barrel, between August last year and January this year,  has affected the operations of firms that provide technical services. Ene said this is evident in the failure of oil servicing firms to secure and implement good contracts.

    “At a point, oil servicing firms were directed by oil exploration and production companies operating in the country to reduce the cost of contracts by 30 per cent. By this, oil services firms are going to execute contracts at a rate or cost that is not beneficial to them. This is a loss, and everyone is now feeling the spiral effect of oil price plunge. Based on this, there is no way oil servicing firms would review their operations to be able to meet up in the industry,” he added.

    He said the body is working to curtail further job loss by introducing measures that would pave way for the engagement of more domestic oil and gas operators.

    Ene said discussions between oil service providers and the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), a body that comprises multinational oil firms in Nigeria, are ongoing to salvage the situation.

    He said: “There are series of engagements between the oil service providers, international oil companies and local oil and gas producers to minimise the effects of the falling crude oil prices on the industry. The discussions were initiated to enable the operators maximise the gains of the Local Content policy formulated years ago.’’

    According to him, oil servicing firms would tap into opportunities provided by the Act to improve their operations after the discussions. He said the discussion would help in clustering activities or services in the industry, stressing that the operators will form groups to execute projects. He said the idea would benefit the local firms in the long run because they would secure and implement oil servicing contracts profitably.

    He said: “When services are clustered and executed by groups, the losses accrued to the parties involved would be minimal. The  purpose  of the Local Content Act or policy  would be defeated if domestic operators cannot tap the opportunties in it.”

    Also, the Chief Executive Officer, Manifold Energy, Dr Dapo Oshinusi, said the effects of the crash in oil prices are evident globally. He said the prayer of operators was that the price of oil should rebound to encourage industry’s growth.

    Oshinusi said oil device providers and other operators were facing hard times caused by glut in supply of crude oil.

    He said oil servicing firms were battling to survive because of the fall in the global prices of crude oil. He said the firms were being forced to review their contracts downward, without considering the implications the development would have on their operations.

    He said: “Imagine a situation where oil services firms got the contracts when the price of crude oil was $100 per barrel, and now being directed by oil majors to cut the cost by 30 per cent. How are they going to make up for the shortfall?”

    Nigeria and other member-countries of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have been battling challenges following the fall in the prices of crude oil since last year.The situation is having debilitating effect on Nigeria that derives over 70 per cent of its revenue from oil.