WorldStage Newsonline-- The desire of the Federal Government of Nigeria to build capacity and extend local content in the oil and gas sector of the economy received a huge boost when 20 Nigerian youths who were trained in pipeline and undersea welding at Samsung Heavy Industries’ Geoje Shipyard, in South Korea returned to the country on Tuesday after the successful completion of their one month intensive training leading to the award of the American Welding Society 3 filet Tag and 4 filet Tag certificates.

The trainees who arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos Tuesday aboard an Emirates Flight from Seoul were the first batch of the Nigerian youths who have been designated for such training, to be trained and acquire skills by Samsung Heavy Machineries Nigeria Ltd.

They were received on arrival by top officials of Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria Ltd. among whom were the Managing Director, Mr. Jejin Jeon and the company’s General Manager, Mr. Frank Ejizu.

Speaking at the brief arrival ceremony, Mr. Ejizu who spoke on behalf of the Samsung Heavy Industries, the facilitators and sponsor of the one month intensive training, said Samsung had through its sponsorship of the training, demonstrated its belief in the capacity building for Nigerians which would lead to increased local content in the oil and gas industry in line with the vision of President Goodluck Jonathan transformation agenda for the industry.

Ejizu who said another batch of the trainees would soon leave the shore of Nigeria for South Korea for the same one month intensive training, implored the beneficiaries of the gesture, to ensure that they put into practice all the skills they acquired during the training.

Besides the skills acquired, the programme exposed the Nigerians to highly advanced and automated production and maintenance facilities at the yard even as they were introduced to the high standard health, safety, environment, quality assurances and control which they needed in the oil and gas sector.

The trainees were full of praises to the company for given them the opportunity to be part of the training programme at no cost, and the opportunity to get a full medical care, learn more about the culture and values of the South Koreans.