In 2004, the yard of Nigerdock in Nigeria decided to build a training school to increase the skills of its employees. This will enable Nigerdock to employ a work force from the local communities neighbouring the yard, providing them with the professional skills required to work for a shipyard and with revenues to allow an improvement in their standard of living.
This initiative was concluded with the opening of a construction and welding school in early 2005. The first students graduated on 17 February 2005. SBM contributed to this "skill transfer" project with technical assistance for the construction of the school and substantial financing.