KAMPALA– Following the appointment and subsequent inauguration of members of the Oil and Gas Sector Skills Council, the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) has oriented the new appointees of the Council on their roles and responsibilities, in guiding the delivery of skills that are required by Uganda’s Oil and Gas industry.
The orientation meeting took place at the Project Coordination Unit for the Skills Development Projects (the Albertine Region Sustainable Development Project (ARSDP) and Uganda Skills Development Project (USDP), situated at Rwenzori Courts-Kampala.
During the orientation, the Ministry of Education and Sports challenged the members of the Sector Skills Council to play their role diligently.
Ms Loy. K. Abaine Muhwezi , the Assistant Commissioner for Technical Education and Project Coordinator familiarized the members with the key sectoral reforms that Government was implementing, through the Skills Development Projects.
She emphasised the role of the council in streamlining and standardizing Oil and Gas Training in the country. She urged the members to drive the Oil and Gas skills development agenda and deliver this mandate to the highest standard.
“The country is relying on you to regulate, and influence the adoption of the right standards for Oil and Gas Training,” she said.
Ms Muhwezi also encouraged the members to promote the right competencies in the sector; support assessments of the competencies and development of occupational standards and curricula for the training of Oil and Gas Professionals.
She also encouraged the Council to form useful committees that will drive its various engagements speedily.
The meeting was presided over by the new Chairperson of the Council, Mr Rossini Silveira who stimulated the members to ensure that as they play their role in closing the Oil and Gas skills gaps in the country, they remain cognisant of the need to promote worthy interventions that do not jeopardise the status of the citizens in the Oil and Gas region.
Instead, all efforts must be made to improve the livelihood of the citizens and preserve the resources therein, especially land and the vegetation.
As part of this orientation process, the Oil and Gas Sector Skills Council members were inducted on the current provisions of the Oil and Gas Workforce Development Strategy and Plan, and their role in the implementation of the ARSDP.
The Sector Skills Council was constituted by the Ministry to support skills development for the Oil and Gas sector in Uganda. The 13 member committee is constituted by representatives selected from various oil-related institutions. Each Council serves for 2 years before their term of office expires.
Through the Skills Development Projects, the Ministry of Education and Sports has prioritized the implementation of significant reforms, aimed at providing relevant skills and competencies that will make Ugandans ready for the world of work.
This effort is being undertaken to close the country’s skills gaps as well as furnish the country’s priority sectors, namely, Oil and Gas, Agriculture, Construction, Manufacturing and Tourism with the right skills to grow and catapult the economy into middle-income status.
It is in line with the Government’s commitments in the National Development Plan 11 and the Country’s Vision 2040.
