Nowerina Nasiwa has made history as Uganda’s first female graduate of the globally recognized Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization (OPITO) engineering program in oil and gas. Her graduation from Busoga International Polytechnic (BIP) in Jinja, Uganda, marks a significant milestone in her journey, which began after overcoming financial and educational setbacks.
Nasiwa joined BIP in 2022 after spending 5 years at home due to unpaid school fees. Inspired by vocational training, she pursued the OPITO program and was the sole female in a cohort of 13 students. The certification equips professionals with skills in safety, technical training, and equipment maintenance, opening doors to employment at supermajors including Shell, BP, and ExxonMobil.
BIP Director Reham Mustafa emphasized the program’s rigorous international standards and its potential to transform Uganda’s vocational training landscape. Nasiwa’s success highlights the importance of vocational education in addressing unemployment and driving socioeconomic transformation.