The Cross River State Government has officially launched a continuous professional development (CPD)-accredited empowerment initiative aimed at training 2,000 youths across the state for careers in the oil and gas sector.
The orientation event, held under the theme “Skill Up in the Season of Sweetness (SUSOS),” took place in Calabar on Thursday. The programme is organised by the State Government through the Office of the Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, in collaboration with the Research Gateway Professional Institute (RGPI).
Declaring the programme open on behalf of Governor Bassey Edet Otu, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, stated that the initiative aligns directly with the administration’s “People First” agenda focused on human capital development and economic inclusion.
“Today’s programme 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,” Governor Otu stated. “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 specialized fields.”
He urged the beneficiaries to view the CPD-accredited certificate and diploma training as a springboard rather than a final goal, encouraging them to pursue continuous development and innovation.
Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Oil and Gas, Ukpong Umoh, explained that the state is proactively building a skilled workforce to ensure local talent is prepared as economic prospects expand.
“True empowerment is not simply putting something in your hands, but putting knowledge in your head, skills in your hands, confidence in your heart, and opportunity within your reach,” Umoh said. “His Excellency has decided to partner with a great institute like this to train our youth so that when opportunities come, we don’t start looking for people from outside. We will already have people prepared, equipped, and skilled to take this industry to another level.”
Later at a media parley with journalists at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Center, Dunamis Archibong, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Affairs (Office of the Chief of Staff), noted the significance of the training within the broader governance framework. Archibong stressed that such initiatives demonstrate how government policies translate into practical benefits for citizens, encouraging young people to evaluate leadership through concrete outcomes rather than political rhetoric.
On his part, Rev. (Dr) ThankGod Arong, Director of Research Gateway Professional Institute (RGPI), commended the administration’s strategic foresight. He noted that empirical surveys conducted by RGPI highlighted the necessity of equipping youths with specialized technical expertise to position the state as a competitive player in the regional energy economy.
The orientation marks the beginning of a state-wide rollout. Two weeks training sessions are scheduled to take place in each of the three senatorial districts, with centers in Ikom and Ogoja prior to the final graduation ceremony in Calabar.
