By Esther Onyegbula

The Minister of State for Steel Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu has reinstated the commitment of the Nigerian government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to explore partnerships to modernise our welding training infrastructure with cutting-edge technology and equipment.

Ahmadu made this known during his opening address at the 2nd Annual Assembly and International Welding Federation Africa Conference held in Lagos on Tuesday.

According to him, President Tinubu’s National Welding Policy, launched in December 2023 exemplifies a strategic approach to leveraging our natural resources and human capital to drive economic growth, create employment opportunities, and enhance industrial competitiveness.

“Central to President Tinubu’s welding policy is the recognition of the critical role played by training and skills development in building a skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of a rapidly evolving industry. The pivotal role of the Metallurgical Training Institute in Onitsha, a flagship institution dedicated to equipping our youth with the requisite skills and knowledge in welding and metallurgy.

“The Metallurgical Training Institute in Onitsha stands as a beacon of excellence in welding education, offering state-of-the-art facilities, world-class training programmes, and expert faculty members. Through its innovative curriculum and hands-on learning approach, the institute is empowering our youth with the practical skills and technical expertise needed to excel in the welding profession.”

Explaining further, Ahmadu said: “As we chart a course towards a brighter future for the welding industry in Africa, let us prioritize investment in skills development, infrastructure, and research and development. By harnessing the collective talents and energies of our people, we can unlock the full potential of the welding sector and drive sustainable development across our continent.”

“The Nigerian government is committed to working hand-in-hand with Welding Federation Africa to achieve these goals. We are actively exploring partnerships to modernize our welding training facilities, develop industry-aligned curriculum, and establish international certification programmes. We believe that by working together, we can empower a new generation of African welders to build a brighter future for our continent.”

The Chairman of the Organizing committee of the conference and chairman of Dorman Long Engineering Limited, Dr. Timi Austen-Peters, said that: “Welders are the unsung heroes of much of the infrastructure and the production that goes on throughout the world. It is important for us not to look down on welding as some sort of roadside activity, which many have this misconception about which is why we bring together a conference as such as this, business, academia the actual welders themselves, everybody come together to make sure that we put all of the necessary impetus behind this very important activity.

“Beyond simply meeting a human need, in Nigeria we have many millions of unemployed people. Welding is a skill which is relatively accessible, and can employ a large number of unemployed youths. We need more unemployed people to be taken off the streets. Yearly we get 200 to 300 youths off the streets, train them on welding, and we are very proud that we are able to make them gainfully employed.”

Highlighting the immense contributions of the welding sector to the economy Mr Nicolas Odinuwe, Chairman, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) said: “As we are aware, material manufacturing technology plays a crucial role in driving innovation, enhancing efficiency and promoting sustainability across various industries. In the energy sector and in particular, these technologies are instrumental in improving operation and performance, reducing cost and advancing environmental stewardship. Managing capacity in Africa is a multi faceted challenge that requires collaboration, investment and strategic planning.”

The highlight of the event was the panel sections with industry stakeholders which focused on exploring innovative solutions that will propel the African manufacturing sector to a new height, standard best practices, competitive and sustainable future for the industry.