Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammed Haruna has said Nigeria is gradually moving in the direction of a manufacturing economy.
The NASENI boss also expressed the hope that the country would embrace new cutting-edge technologies or frontier technologies as prerequisite for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Prof Haruna said this at the flag-off of the first-phase of South-South regional skill development at the Construction and Fabrication Academy of West Africa, Calabar, Cross River state capital.
More than 100 youth are expected to benefit from the training in modern methods of electrical installations and maintenance.
Haruna said the ongoing massive retraining of youths nationwide on new technologies was part of plans to achieve the target set by the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
The NASENI boss said President Buhari had empowered the agency to lead the nation in the direction of a manufacturing economy.
“The president has continued to empower NASENI to lead the nation in the direction of a manufacturing economy, and undoubtedly this type of skill development is a key pre-requisite toward the development of a competent workforce for Nigeria.
“This training is therefore to familiarise the trainees not only on the current advances of the new and emerging technologies in electrical Installations, Repairs and Maintenance, but also prepare and equip them and build adequate competencies to meet the challenges and opportunities of the development anticipated of the shape and nature of the next Industrial Revolution.
“I urge the participants to utilize judiciously and guard jealously the expensive tools to be given to them at the end of this training as their start-up,” he said.
The NASENI EVC also said cutting edge technologies or frontier technologies would shape the Fourth Industrial Revolution, adding the nation cannot afford to be left behind.
Haruna said: “Development in cutting edge technologies or frontier technologies as the innovations that are shaping the fourth industrial revolution are named is no doubt disrupting many things and introducing constant changes and standards.
“Electrical installation, repairs and maintenance will no longer be metre conduiting, piping or trunking of cable channel and streaming overhead conductors.
“It is beyond provision of lighting points and socket outlets. It is about automation remote sensing, remote control and wireless operation. The practitioners’ knowledge needs regular update to remain relevant and be able to get employment, remain employed and even create jobs for others.”
Speaking at the event, Cross River state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, thanked NASENI for the training.
