|
The Federal Government has reiterated its determination
for sustained human capacity development for the growth and
development of the nation’s steel and allied industries.
The
Minister of Mines and Steel Development , Arc Musa Mohammed
Sada made this disclosure while declaring open a one day
stakeholders forum of the National Metallurgical Training
Institute, Onitsha Anambra State ,whose theme was; ‘’The
imperative of Low and Middle Level Technical Manpower
Development to the Steel and Metallurgical Sector in
Nigeria.’’
Arc. Sada said that the Federal Government has made human
capacity development as a major pillar in its transformation
agenda for the industrial development of Nigeria.
The Minister noted that the forum would enable the
stakeholders to be better informed on the activities of the
institute in providing skilled manpower for the
Metallurgical and Steel Sector.
He added that the forum would also create necessary
awareness on the human capital potentials of Nigeria which
investors from within and outside the country could harness
with a view to creating wealth and generating employment.
The Minister solicited the support of stakeholders for the
sustenance of the institute. He reiterated that there was no
way the steel industry could grow without an adequately
trained low and middle cadre technician which the institute
handles.
Arc. Sada disclosed that products of the institute has made
and are still making contributions in the steel and allied
industries, manufacturing oil and gas sector of Nigerian
economy.
Since the National Metallurgical Training Institute has a
vital role to play in the industrial development of Nigeria,
the Minister canvassed for adequate funding of the
establishment.
The institute which was established in 1980 as a result of
bilateral agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria
and Germany does not have any enabling Act yet.
Arc.Sada assured that efforts were being made to get the Act
establishing the institute ready as soon as possible.
In his remark, the Chairman of the Stakeholder Forum,
Engineer Tim Efobi advised that the National Metallurgical
Training Institute’s mandate should not be polluted but
could be improved upon.
Engineer Efobi assured that the technical partners of the
institute are still there to assist.
In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Mr.
Peter Obi represented by the Commissioner for Science and
Technology in Anambra State, Chief Aloysius Egwuatu said
that the state would continue to support the activities and
programmers of the institute which help in employment and
wealth creation thereby reducing poverty in the state and
the nation.
In his remark, the vice chairman of the House of
Representatives Committee on Steel, Hon. Christo Ameke said
that his committee was ready to assist the institute in any
area within its jurisdiction at the National Assembly to
facilitate its operations.
In his welcome address at the event, the Director and Chief
Executive Officer of the National Metallurgical Training
Institute, Mr. Eugene Anyaeji said that the institute runs a
3 year programme of study made up of 80% practice and 20%
theory in Mechanical Equipment Maintenance Engineering;
Industrial Electrical Engineering; Instrumentation and
central system Engineering; Steel Fabrication and Welding
Engineering; and Heavy Mobile Equipment Maintenance
Engineering.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute,
the following services are provided by the institute:
Training in middle and low level technical manpower in
maintenance and repair works for the steel sector in Nigeria
,creating a pool of indigenous technical workforce that can
erect, commission, operate and maintain metallurgical and
allied industries thereby reducing Nigeria’s dependence on
foreign technical workforce; further training of skilled
personnel already employed in the metallurgical and allied
industries; consultancy services for firms in the
implementation of their training programmes; job creation
for youths through empowerment with appropriate skills and
technology; operation of a National Diploma Programme in
four of the engineering courses run in the institute.
Mr. Anyaeji disclosed that from inception the institute has
produced over 3,000 technicians engaged in the steel,
manufacturing, oil and gas sectors of Nigeria’s economy. He
added that graduates of the institute are self employed
while others are employed by companies and other
establishments.
He highlighted the needs of the institute as follows:
infrastructure; additional workshops and classroom;
technical equipment additional manpower; training and
re-training of staff; hostel facilities among others. |
