Tapping into Africa’s Most Precious Natural Resource

Africa’s most precious natural resource is also one of its most discounted: its young people. Africa is the most

 youthful continent in the world, with over 60 per cent of the population under 35 years old. While its potential is substantial, tapping into this resource requires comprehensive training programmes to equip the working population with critical skills in industry. Only with a well-trained workforce will Africa be able to meet the needs of its burgeoning markets.

To meet the current demand and ready the industry and the country for future projects, GE is investing ahead of the business cycle in Mozambique. GE Oil & Gas has already handpicked recent graduates in the country to take part in the prestigious GE Graduate Engineering Training Program (GETP) in expectation of future projects and industry growth for the company. 

GETP is a ‘best in class’ development programme designed to prepare engineers for work and enable them to join GE’s global Field Service Engineering team. These trainees were selected following a rigorous screening process. With degrees in mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering, they have the foundation needed for a career in the energy sector.

Similar GE training programmes are already underway in Nigeria and Angola, which are teaching participants necessary skills for servicing existing projects in their respective countries. Chimaroke Ibe, a trainee from the programme in Nigeria said, “There’s so much to learn and I am confident that with the experience I gain here, I can develop my skills and become a project engineer.”

GE’s investments in Nigeria are about “building a competitive supply chain to support Nigeria’s growth in the global economy. The investments are about technology transfer, job creation and human capital development,” said GE Nigeria CEO Lazarus Ongbazo.

The 24-month course In Mozambique is designed to deliver first-hand training. Over the coming months, trainees will participate in laboratory-based instruction in Maputo that focuses on engineering fundamentals, such as technical skills training for field service and application engineering. Trainees then relocate to the PMI Technical Training Engineering Campus in South Africa to complete the second phase of the classroom programme. At PMI, the course focuses on professional development and technical skills training.

In the final 12 months, trainees gain first-hand experience on GE Oil & Gas Subsea and LNG products such as subsea ‘Christmas trees’ - deep-sea mining equipment named for its crude resemblance to a decorated tree. Trainees learn the technical skills to manufacture and service the Christmas trees on site in the UK, Brazil, Angola and Nigeria.

Welcoming the trainees for their first day of training at the Mozal Training Centre in Maputo, Marco Caccavale, CEO of GE Mozambique stressed that from day one, the trainees are very much part of GE. By successfully completing this programme, each trainee has the opportunity to join GE’s workforce in the future.  

With Africa’s total population set to double by 2050, GE is working to ensure that the young people are equipped with critical skills, helping ensure that the continent’s most precious resource does not go untapped.

source:gereports africa