How Oil and Gas sector of Nigeria can improve through Modern Learning?

The oil producing nations strictly depends upon their oil and gas sector for economic prosperity. Nigeria also does the same, but the recent descend in this sector has provided the nation with serious concerns. To see what can be done to eliminate these problems, a conference was held in 2013 which aimed at examining the potentials of the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.

It was held in the end of February 2013  and it was successful in providing an opportunity to superior the position of the sector by reviewing the government planning data, receiving several updates from the officials of all the major industries, by networking with the decision makers and recognising the various business prospects.

The key challenges which the oil and gas sector of Nigeria is facing these days were identified with sharing different presentations by the forum members who belonged to this definite sector in Nigeria as well as other countries. They extracted the various challenges this sector is facing and how it can be eliminated. Some of the major threats identified by them were that of the PIB (Petroleum Industry Bill), gas flaring, pipeline wreckage and the theft of crude oil.

 After the conference ended, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke also revealed her efforts in redesigning the collapsed sector of oil and gas industry which is also very important for the development of the country. She said that the government is doing its job to give utmost priority to this particular sector and is aiming to do the needful. She was of the view, “This mandate is a pivotal point in the overall transformation agenda of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration.”

By saying this, she meant that with the consent of the ministry, she will soon transform the industry of Oil and Gas sector in the country by implementing the various gas policies on the exploitation, exploration, utilisation and production of hydrocarbon in harmony with the international standards. She further added that she will do the needful to improvise this sector and in the next five years, the oil and gas sector of Nigeria will accomplish great strength and therefore it will develop itself as well.

As these challenges faced in the gas and oil industry in Nigeria is basically due to the lack of technological advancement, some are also of the view that as the industry is facing shortage in skills and expertise of the workers in this field, it is important to teach and train them with the updated knowledge of the same.

However, traditional mode of edification didn’t seem to help much as face-to-face learning often fails in promoting the updated facts and also it is not as effective as the blended online education system. In e-learning, the learners are equipped with a sea of knowledge about their subject and this is not possible in traditional mode of education.

According to an article in the Atlas Ltd, e-learning “allows rapid updating of content, is more accessible and delivers powerful management information for greater control and statistical analysis.” It is also cost effective mode of learning and what the learners will enjoy the most are its flexible study timings as they can carry on with their topics whenever they are free for it.

Hence, the Oil and Gas Industry of Nigeria is undoubtedly facing troubles and may be with the help of the government and an increased knowledge about the industry for its employees with the help of e-learning, these troubles can soon be ripped off from its root.