Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, reaffirmed its leadership in Nigeria’s welding and oil and gas training sector by hosting the nation’s first-ever National Welding Road Show, showcasing innovation, skill development, and continental collaboration in modern welding technologies.

Organized by the Nigerian Institute of Welding (NIW) in collaboration with the Welding Federation (TWF) of Africa, the road show engaged PTI’s welding community in an interactive session exploring the TWF Welder Training Qualification syllabus—an African-focused framework designed to keep welders competitive and globally relevant.

Delivering his keynote address virtually, Engr. Bijimi Gaiya Chairman of NIW’s Certification and Training Committee (CTC), applauded the enthusiasm of PTI students and described the road show as part of NIW’s “Rebuild, Reclaim, and Rebrand” initiative aimed at repositioning the welding profession.

In her remarks, Engr. Grace Erhimona, former PTI Director and Vice Chairman of NIW CTC, commended PTI for “setting the pace yet again.”

She credited the institute’s success to continuous capacity-building support from agencies such as PTDF, NDDC, and NCDMB, but also drew attention to infrastructural gaps revealed during the event, especially in specialized process techniques such as gouging, buttering, and hard-facing.

She appealed to the intervention agencies to further support PTI and sponsor its welders and instructors for future TWF Continental Welding Competitions noting the motivational and technical benefits such exposure provides.

Speaking with journalists, Ayo Adeniyi, Executive Director of The Welding Federation, described the PTI event as “a success story that connects skills with opportunity.”

He thanked PTI’s management, led by Engr. Dr. Samuel Onoji, as well as past directors and industry professionals including Dr. Jimba Bankole, Engr. Jerome Peter, and Engr. David Adidi, among others, for their contributions to the road show’s success.

Adeniyi urged government intervention agencies to recognize Africa’s fast-evolving welding ecosystem and align with TWF’s ‘African Content Support Programme, which promotes research, innovation, and manpower development across the continent.

He appealed to PTDF, NDDC, TETFUND, and NCDMB to establish dedicated funding to enable Nigerian experts and academics to participate in the annual TWF Assemblies, held across Africa each March or April.

He lamented that while Nigerian academics actively engage in welding research throughout the year, many are unable to attend these continental gatherings due to lack of funds or delays in their release—an issue he said continues to dampen morale within the academic welding community.

From being the first institution dedicated solely to oil and gas manpower development, to becoming the nation’s first approved welding training body, and the first national institute to participate—and place second—in a continental welding competition, PTI continues to raise the bar. (The Nation)