By Fidelis Ugbomeh
Introduction of railway technology and administration in our tertiary schools curriculum received a boost recently when Management of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) with five tertiary institutions on technology transfer and training.
The five tertiary institutions that joined the pioneering ones are Yaba Colleege of Technology, Lagos, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, Kaduna State Polytechnic, Kaduna and Trinity University, Lagos.
Recall that training of students in some aspects of railway technology and administration first started with establishment of railway training schools (for internal promotions), Nigerian Institute of Transport Technogy, Zaria, Railway technical training school, Ebute-Metta Junction, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State (master’s degree in transportation) and more recently Transportation University, Daura.
However, close watchers of unfolding events in railway sector have welcomed interest shown by some tertiary institutions in training students on railway technology considering the huge investment of government in modernisation of railway infrastructure and need to build capacity for its sustainance.
Managing director of a transport and logistics company:First Rit Nigeria Limited, Mr. Eric Umezurike buttressed this fact saying, some staff of the corporation who joined service with senior secondary school certificates can now enrol in these institutions to further their education instead of working for 35 years relying on promotions based on civil service rules.
According to him the training will provide opportunity for staff who attend such institutions to be promoted to higher grades before retirement.
Another respondent, Mr. John Obot, noted that since Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has been removed from exclusive to concurrent list, by the 9th national assembly, some state governments have started to invest in railways adding tha the rail system cannot function effectively without building capacity.
He said that railway equipment are very expensive and no private individual or government would invest in rail infrastructure and not train people to maintain the equipment
Managing director of the corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa had during the signing ceremony stated that the MoU is geared towards railway technology skill acquisition, skill dissemination and skill utilization.
According to him, the memorandum of understanding signed is to create partnership, transfer technology, and take advantage on both ends.
“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 HND, this will afford them the opportunity to move forward. Where there is degree limitations, they can get university qualification in rail technology, in rail administration, or rail management.
“So that’s what this is all about. It will also allow us to put to maximum use the skillset available in railway, which is not available in many industries. Skillset like Digital technology, track technology, locomotive engineering, rail engineering, logistics engineering, logistics management, and the rest, which we are very good at, we are now able to do them better.
“it affords the nation a win-win situation, where people who are doing any particular skill can acquire them. Where our own staff who need other skills can use them. Where people who retire from here can end up in the Polytechnic or universities as guest lecturers or whatever. Where 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.” Opeifa stated
On whether this MoU will stop foreign training, the NRC MD stated that, “No, it may not. It depends on the type of training.
“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.
Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, Dr Kadir Oluwatoyin, described the MoU signing as a bold and commendable commitment towards the achievement of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President.
“We are very delighted to be part of this historic occasion. This partnership will foster hands on learn experience between the students and 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 after signing the MoU.
“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”, he said.
Also speaking, Dr Abdul Mohammed, Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, also appreciated President Bola Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that the MoU would help in training the younger generation in railway engineering and technology.
“It will also provide skills manpower for the sector. By the time the programme is well established, we have products from different MoU that will service the railway and this will reduce the usage of expatriate and training of personnel outside the country.
“It will create job for the teaming unemployed youths in the sector and help them seek for opportunities not only within the country alone, but outside,’’ Mohammed enthused.
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