ALKALERI, Nigeria, July 3 — Dust and the clatter of construction fill the air at the Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy, where work has now passed the 60 percent completion mark. The institution, rising in Alkaleri, is designed to train a globally certified workforce for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. Commissioner for Natural Resources, Hon.
Mohammed M. Bello, gave the update during an inspection of the project by members of the Government House Press Crew.
The team was led by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Usman Shehu Usman. Bello said the academy was established after the discovery of hydrocarbons at the Kolmani Oil Field.
Its purpose: to provide specialized training for local youths and bridge the manpower gap in the energy sector. All 16 structures planned for the academy are under construction, the commissioner said.
The institution has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a renowned oil and gas training institution in Texas, United States, to ensure internationally recognized certification. Graduates, Bello explained, would be qualified to work in oil and gas companies in Nigeria and abroad. The Commissioner for Information and Communication called the academy one of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed’s legacy projects.
He said it would create employment opportunities for thousands of youths. Mukhtar Gidado, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, said the inspection was organized to let journalists independently assess the work and keep the public informed about the project. Members of the inspection team commended the quality and pace of construction.
They expressed optimism that the academy would position Bauchi as a key player in Nigeria’s emerging oil and gas industry. For now, the focus is on finishing the remaining structures and delivering on the Texas partnership.
The question on the ground is whether the academy can turn its 60 percent progress into a fully operational institution that delivers on its promise of skilled, certified graduates ready for the global energy market.
