The Nigerian Railway Corporation has reaffirmed plans to transform the Railways Technical Institute into a modern, commercially viable centre of excellence.
The Managing Director of the Corporation, Kayode Opeifa reaffirmed the commitment during the graduation of 86 trainees from the Technical institute in Ebute-Metta, Lagos.
The vacation training is in collaboration with the Nigerian Railway Corporation’s skills acquisition programme with the National Directorate of Employment.
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“No railway system can function optimally without a steady pipeline of technically competent manpower,” Opeifa said at the ceremony.
Building Technical Capacity
The intensive training blended theory with hands-on practice in electrical installation, welding, refrigeration, ICT, and automobile mechanics. The “learning by doing” approach is aimed at equipping youths with employable skills for self-reliance.
Vocational and Entrepreneurial
Opeifa described the graduation as a milestone for both NRC and Nigeria’s workforce development agenda, stating that the institute has evolved from railway maintenance into broader vocational and entrepreneurial training over the decades.
“This ceremony is not just a graduation. It’s a demonstration of our commitment to youth empowerment and nation-building through technical education,” he said.
Curriculum Upgrade
The Nigerian Railway Corporation plans to upgrade the institute to offer National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programmes, with a revised curriculum aligned to global railway technology and energy systems.
Opeifa urged the graduands to see the certificate as the start, not the end: He said they were leaving with skills that can create opportunities and add value to the economy.
Staffing and Growth Concerns
The Principal of the College , Kelechi Nosike called on the railway corporation to address long-standing staffing gaps by absorbing experienced part-time instructors and retaining top graduates to strengthen workshop capacity.
The institute has trained thousands of youths over the years and remains central to Nigeria Railway Corporation push for logistics efficiency and national economic integration.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation is undergoing strategic transformation in line with the Federal Government’s transportation modernisation agenda, with human capital development at its core.
