By Ayomide Otitoju
A new cohort of 52 trainee engineers has successfully completed the Dangote Petroleum Refinery Graduate Trainee Programme and is poised for formal induction into the refinery’s workforce. The engineers, specializing in Chemical, Electrical/Electronic, and Mechanical Engineering, underwent rigorous training, culminating in project presentations and defenses evaluated by refinery management.
The latest batch, identified as group 10, joins hundreds of engineers previously trained under the initiative, which began before the refinery’s completion to cultivate local expertise for Africa’s largest single-train refinery.
During the ceremony, trainees presented innovative solutions and fielded questions from management, emphasizing operational improvements over routine maintenance.
Management’s Vision for Innovation
Manas Banergie, Head of Operations at Dangote Petroleum Refinery, representing Vice-President Devakumar Edwin, congratulated the graduates, stressing the refinery’s focus on continuous improvement. “We don’t do maintenance here; we improve through innovation,” Banergie stated, underscoring the expectation for proactive problem-solving.
Structured Training Framework
Dr. Ebele Oputa, Assistant General Manager for Human Asset Management and program coordinator, outlined the two-year curriculum, which blends classroom instruction, hands-on experience, and leadership development. Recruits, all under 30 and post-NYSC, undergo a five-phase process including induction, shadowing, equipment training, and supervised plant operations.
Trainees must complete written exams, project defenses, and confidential performance reviews before confirmation. The program aims to bridge academic theory with practical industry demands, fostering professional networks and self-assessment.
Commitment to Local Capacity
The initiative aligns with Dangote’s broader plan to train 900 Nigerian engineers, with previous cohorts receiving overseas instruction and advanced degrees.
The newly inducted engineers pledged to uphold operational excellence, describing the opportunity as transformative for their careers.
The refinery’s phased recruitment and training strategy underscores its commitment to local content development, positioning Nigerian engineers to eventually assume full operational control of the 650,000-barrel-per-day facility.
