The Federal Government has mandated the Board of Trustee for Cement Technology Institute (CTI), to  train manpower for the cement industry, just like the Petroleum Institute, Warri is doing for Oil Industry.

The Institute was recently established by the Presidency.  The Board is headed by the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote while the Chairman, Project Implementation Team is Alhaji Lateef Salami, Director, Industrial Development Department in the Ministry of Trade and Investment.

In a statement, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, said  government has mandated the Institute to train and enhance human capital development in the cement industry and related fields, especially at the middle management level.

The Board, he said has also been charged to undertake research and development in the areas of suitable alternative technologies in cement manufacturing; utilisation of local raw materials for cement manufacturing and building, and utilisation of industrial bye-products (slag, fly ash and agro – wastes) for cement manufacturing.

He pointed out that government wants  the Institute  to be the fulcrum for the positioning of  the country as a net exporter of cement with the capacity of meeting the needs of the ECOWAS sub-region.

Other objectives of the Institute, he stated, include:  development of various types of cement, namely, high alumina cement,  low-heat cement, ; capacity to use mineral admixtures that will prolong life span of the raw materials;  cleaner and environment friendly production processes and waste management in the cement industry and energy conservation.

Developing and establishing prototype mini-cement plant; utilisation of locally manufactured components and parts for the cement industry; to maintain data bank for cement and cement related industries.

Liaise with other research Institutes with a view to tapping their full potentials for enhancing cement technology development, as well as to harmonise the programmes of these Institutes in areas of common national interest;  possibilities of cement exports within a reasonable time thereby saving the huge foreign exchange currently being spent on cement importation, as well as  increase in local production of cement using improved technology provided by the Institute at a cheaper cost.