The SITP Programme, the first of its kind in the industry, was established in 1998 with the objective of using British educational standards and quality to develop the skills of young Nigerian graduates and technicians and to prepare them for employment in the oil industry. The company enlisted the services of Robert Gordon University and Nexus Alliance / Ipedex, two organizations engaged in developing staff to design and deliver the Programme. The SITP Programme has two distinct components.
The SITP1 component is intended for technical engineering/science graduates. The students (designated as Trainees) are recruited in Nigeria through a rigorous selection process. Recruits to SITP1 are required undergo a one-year intensive training programme during which they are staff members of the Company. There were three specialisations available: Engineering, IT and Geology. The programme was converted to a Masters Level Programme in 2001. On recruitment, Trainees are informed that the training will be both challenging and intensive. Upon successful completion of the training, the Trainees are posted on their first job assignment in either Field Engineering or Production Engineering. During the 1-year programme, Trainees are provided with full board and accommodation and there is, at Edjeba Learning Village, Warri; where both SITP 1 and SITP 2 are based, a purpose-designed learning environment. Around 1000 Engineers have completed SITP 1 since 1998.
The SITP2 program has been developed for school leavers with a technical background. In SITP2, there are three areas of specialisation: Instrumentation Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology, with Production Operations common to all of them. The training from 1998 until 2005 was provided by Nexus Alliance Limited in conjunction with the Ipedex Group (Aberdeen, UK) it was taken over 100% by Nexus Alliance in 2006. At the end of the training, the technicians receive a City and Guilds Technicians Diploma. The affiliation with City and Guilds International of London enables graduates of the programme to obtain the internationally recognised Technician Diploma. Around 700 Technicians have completed SITP 2 since 1998.
Duration: January 1998 – June 2009