The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) with five tertiary institutions to deepen railway technology capacity in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MoU, which was signed on Monday in Lagos, would focus on technology transfer and training.
The five tertiary institutions that signed the MoU with the NRC are the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos; Kwara State Polytechnic; the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara; Kaduna State Polytechnic and Trinity University, Sabo, Lagos.
Speaking after the signing, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the NRC, Dr Kayode Opeifa, said the initiative would boost railway technology, skill acquisition, dissemination and utilisation.
Opeifa said the MoU would create partnership and transfer technology
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“It is also geared toward developing an enduring legacy that will transcend this generation in skill acquisition, dissemination, and utilisation.
“On the other end, for our staff, it will stop this era of promotion stagnation, like staff progression. This opportunity will give some of our workers a chance to go and get a diploma and move beyond level six.
“For those who have Higher National Diploma, this will afford them the opportunity to move forward. Where there are degree limitations, they can get university qualification in rail technology, administration, or management.
“So, that’s what this is all about. It will also allow us to put to maximum use the skill set available in railway, which is not available in many industries,” he said.
Opeifa listed some of the skill sets as digital technology, track technology, locomotive, rail, logistics engineering, and logistics management.
He described the MoU as a win-win situation for the country.
“This is where our own staff who need other skills can use them. People who retire from here can end up in the polytechnic or universities as guest lecturers.
“People in the university can come here, use our equipment, use our facilities, and we get maximum benefits from such collaboration. So, it’s a win-win situation for the nation,” he said.
On foreign training, Opeifa said it would not likely affect foreign training when the need arises.
“There is a saying that states: if knowledge is in China, go and look for it. If knowledge is in Abu Dhabi, go for it. If knowledge is in Chicago, go for it. So, knowledge should not be about boundaries.
“But what this MoU will do is that, the knowledge that we can give, there will not be any need to travel for it. And that saves a lot of money,” he said.
In his remarks, Dr Kadir Oluwatoyin, Rector, The Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, described the MoU as a bold step in the right direction.
Oluwatoyin said the MoU was in line with the Federal Government Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We are very delighted to be part of this historic occasion. This partnership will foster hands on learn experience between the students and the NRC.
“We will get knowledge, internship, and the staff can come here for sabbatical as said by the NRC managing director. It has numerous benefits.
“Recently, we sent our staff to China for training, but if we have a training ground here in Nigeria, we will not, so definitely, this partnership will be a tremendous benefit to both parties.
Also speaking, Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic, and Dr Abdul Mohammed appreciated President Bola Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda.
Mohammed said the MoU would help in training the younger generation in railway engineering and technology.
“ It will also provide skills and manpower for the sector. By the time the programme is well established, we will have products from different MoU that will service the railway, and this will reduce the usage of expatriates and training of personnel outside the country.
“ It will create a job for the teaming unemployed youth in the sector and help them seek for opportunities not only within the country alone but outside,” he said.
