- Expert to Train Youths in Coal Extraction in Enugu
A petroleum industry expert, Dr Livinus Nosike, has called for more involvement of youths in the sector.
Dr Nosike was spoke at the 6th Enugu Youth Summit tagged Innovative Technology & Youth Entrepreneurship Summit organised by the office of the S.A. to the Governor of Enugu, Dr Emeka Asogwa, and the State Ministry of Youths and Sports.
While addressing hundreds of young entrepreneurs in the State, the 41-year-old Doctor of Petroleum Geology from Ezeagu Local Government Area of the State hinted that his company, Integrated Elvee Services (IES) Ltd, will be willing to train over 180 youths across Enugu State on petroleum and coal exploration as a way of creating hundreds of jobs within the State.
He said the training was in view of the State government’s ongoing discussions with South African investors to revamp the coal sector in Enugu State.
He said, “IES Oil and Gas Training will be empowering these youths with a token covering only registration fees which is a far cry from the N5,000 000 Naira equivalent or more with which students have to travel abroad to get trained. Coal is a huge goldmine; tons of unconventional hydrocarbon lies underneath our feet in Enugu State.
“It is the next mineral resource that can pay us more than petroleum in the State, unfortunately our Nigerian Universities are not practical about the trainings hence we as our own way of giving back to society want to empower youths of the coal-rich Enugu”.
The University of Nice – Sophia Antipolis, France graduate complained that graduates of petroleum courses in Nigeria have little knowledge about the industry. He emphasised that petrol does not only come from crude oil.
He said, “There is hydrocarbon from shale, from coal and from even plants – biofuel. Technology such as coal liquefaction produce hydrocarbon while polluting gas capture and sequestration help to abate the environmental impact.
“Even when it comes to conventional sources of hydrocarbon, it’s disheartening that many geology students don’t know what a simple rig is. This is because the workings in the oil and gas industry seem mystified. Petroleum geo-science is like agriculture, it is not as complex as people think. It’s simple to get trained in any of the chains in the industry.”
The Lagos-based entrepreneur who told journalists that the coal industry in Enugu will provide over 1,000 jobs noted that it will be sad for Enugu State to fall into the challenge of inexperienced locals working with the coal foreign investors.
“We should not make the mistake of the past,” he said. “When oil and gas exploration started in the Niger Delta, the local thought they will benefit from it because it is in their land. But in a capitalistic economy, he who brings the capital takes the proceeds. They only way to get the proceeds is to get involved early enough. That is the only way to ensure there is no schism between the various parties.”
