Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, highlights that Nigeria faces an annual economic drain of $10 billion due to the reliance on imported certified welders across diverse sectors.
At a ceremony in Abuja yesterday, the minister revealed these details while overseeing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, signaling a commitment to academic and industry synergy.
The pact involves the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA), and Neuro-Linguistic Programming Limited.
Nnaji, expressing his disappointment with the current scenario, called upon stakeholders to increase their dedication to nurturing local content within the country, emphasizing the necessity for a change in direction.
Pointing to a significant imbalance, he shared that the newly operational Dangote Refinery has engaged around 11,000 welders, none of whom are Nigerian.
He bemoaned the absence of international certification among the vast pool of over one million welders in Nigeria, limiting their entry into the oil and gas sectors.
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‘We are lacking in manpower. We are lacking in skillful artisans, not just digital people. Looking at the Dangote Refinery, it employed about 11,000 artisans, welders. But none of those welders came from Nigeria. They were all imported. A job as small as welding, of which we have over one million welders here, none of them has ISO certification.’
‘And part of our move in this ministry is to partner with the Nigerian Welding Association and set up a hub in the six geopolitical zones, where we would train welders and give them ISO certification, so that they will have that permit to work both within and outside Nigeria. And if we have enough welders in this country, there will be no need to start importing welders.’
‘And what Nigeria is losing in not doing that is over $10 billion every year, because a welder is paid about $150 a day. The same way, if you look at the AKK pipeline that is going on now, most of them came from Pakistan, India, China, not one from Nigeria,’ he said.
From his standpoint, Director General of NACETEM, Olusola Odusanya, stressed that the academic program is geared towards cultivating technological skills, ensuring candidates receive international recognition.
Faruk Kuta, Vice Chancellor of FUT Minna, expressed his joy at the development, highlighting the university’s happiness in forming a partnership with the agency for the training of middle and high-level manpower within the sector.