The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with five tertiary institutions in Nigeria to boost capacity, transfer technology, and training.
The five tertiary institutions that signed the MoU with the NRC included: Yaba College of Technology, Lagos; Kwara State Polytechnic, Kwara; the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara; Kaduna State Polytechnic, Kaduna, and Trinity University, Lagos.
Speaking after the signing of the MoU, the Managing Director/CEO of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, stated that the MoU is geared towards railway technology skill acquisition, skill dissemination, and skill utilisation.
According to the NRC boss, “The MoU we signed today is to create a partnership, transfer technology, and take advantage on both ends.
“It is also geared towards developing an enduring legacy that will transcend this generation in skill acquisition, skill dissemination, and skill utilisation.
“On the other end, for our staff, it will stop this era of promotion stagnation… 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 are degree limitations, they can get a university qualification in rail technology, in rail administration, or in rail management.”
Asking whether the MoU will stop foreign training, the NRC MD stated that, “No, it may not. It depends on the type of training.
“But what this MoU will do is that the knowledge that we can give here, there won’t be any need to travel for it. And that saves the country a lot of money.”
Also speaking on the MoU, the Rector of 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 President Bola Tinubu.
“We are very delighted to be part of this historic occasion. This partnership will foster a hands-on learning experience between the students and NRC. We will get knowledge, an internship, and the staff can come here for a 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.”
Also speaking, Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Dr. Abdul Mohammed, also appreciated President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that the MoU would help in training the younger generation in railway engineering and technology.
“It will create jobs for the teaming unemployed youths in the sector and help them seek opportunities not only within the country, but outside,” he said.