GE Launches “Garages” Skill-Building Centre in Nigeria

GE Nigeria CEO, Lazarus Angbazo

Customers of GE Oil and Gas, partners and other stakeholders in the Nigerian Oil & Gas industry today met at the GE Garage for an interactive session on the role of technology in the Nigerian Oil & Gas industry.  The Garage is an innovation and manufacturing centre where aspiring makers and entrepreneurs can go to develop new skills and learn about advanced manufacturing technologies.

At the event, GE Nigeria Oil & Gas Leader Uzo Nwagwu said that technology continues to play a key role in the development of the Oil and gas industry, and there needs to be concerted efforts to build skills and capacity in available local manpower.

According to Uzo Nwagwu, “The core of GE Oil & Gas is technology, and this technology will play a critical role in emerging energy markets. As the Oil & Gas industry continues to explore new sources of production, operations are increasing in complexity thus driving significant demand for better technology in equipment and services”. GE is investing significantly in the training of engineers and technicians in the use of the ever-evolving technology. About 70% of the GE Oil and Gas Field Service Engineers and technicians in Nigeria are indigenous and we expect to see those numbers grow.

The GE Nigeria Oil and Gas leader explained that GE delivers expertise to Africa by being a “big business” that acts like a nimble, local, “small” business. “We do this by combining a deep understanding of local demands, challenges, and opportunities in the energy sector with GE’s global scale and R&D,” said Uzo.

GE is investing in technology and service sectors that are critically important to the region, such as subsea, artificial lift, CNG and LNG: Subsea production is expected to increase by 35% globally by 2018 as growing demand drives production toward much deeper parts of the sea. GE is delivering technology and services today to develop subsea resources and is developing the technologies that will move processing to the seabed. GE has a full portfolio of Artificial Lift technologies to help customers improve production on depleting wells and has also solutions to facilitate broader access to gas for distributed power.

Participants at the session were taken on a tour of the Garages display and interacted directly with technology ranging from 3D printers to laser cutters. The Garages programme is in partnership with the Dangote Foundation and Points of Light. As a significant stakeholder within the Nigerian private sector, the Dangote Foundation will help produce and maintain the program and will collaborate on curriculum development for aspiring entrepreneurs. In addition, Dangote will be engaged to source and support the venue which will host Garages in Lagos.

With the help of GE Foundation partner Points of Light, GE will activate its 400+ employees in Nigeria, as well as the global African Affinity Forum within GE, to create a network of mentors, coaches and teachers for program participants.