Cross River State Government has begun preparing young people for a possible expansion of the state’s participation in the oil and gas industry, with 2,000 youths selected for specialised training as the administration intensifies its push to reclaim the state’s 76 oil wells.
The training programme, known as “Skill Up in the Season of Sweetness” (SUSOS), was formally flagged off in Calabar on Thursday, September 24, 2026. The event was declared open by the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, who represented Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
Governor Otu said the initiative was designed to equip young Cross Riverians with technical skills and professional certifications that could position them for opportunities in the oil and gas industry.
He stressed that the sector goes beyond crude oil exploration and production, pointing to opportunities in engineering, logistics, marine services, safety, environmental management, procurement, maintenance and data services.
According to the governor, the training of the 2,000 youths is part of his administration’s broader human-capital development and economic inclusion agenda. He urged the beneficiaries not to see their certificates as the end of the programme but as a foundation for further professional development, entrepreneurship and innovation.
The state’s Special Adviser on Oil and Gas, Ukpong Umoh, said the programme was intended to move beneficiaries beyond simply seeking employment and prepare them to become valuable participants in the sector.
Umoh maintained that the oil and gas industry requires properly trained and disciplined personnel, adding that meaningful empowerment involves putting knowledge, skills and opportunities within the reach of young people.
The Director of Research Gateway Institute, the organisation handling the training, ThankGod Arong Onda, disclosed that the state government is sponsoring the beneficiaries with scholarships of N500,000 each. He described the programme as a strategic investment in preparing Cross River youths for opportunities that could emerge if the state succeeds in its efforts to reclaim its oil assets.
The organisers said the programme will extend beyond the initial orientation in Calabar, with training sessions planned across the state’s 18 local government areas. Zonal sessions are expected to hold in Ogoja for the Northern Senatorial District and Ikom for the Central Senatorial District before the programme culminates in a graduation ceremony.
The development comes as the Cross River Government continues to publicly pursue the return of the state’s oil-producing assets. The government has previously described the recovery of its oil wells as an important part of its plans to expand the state’s economic base.
For the 2,000 beneficiaries, the immediate focus is now on acquiring the technical competence and professional qualifications that the government says will be required to take advantage of opportunities in the sector.
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