By PRECIOUS OLUWOLE
The Hon. Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has commended the Director General of National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), Ile Ife, Dr. Olushola Odusanya, for innovative collaboration with the Federal University of Technology (FUT) and other technical partners to transform Nigerian graduates to skilled workforce.
Speaking in the Conference Room of his office during the signing ceremony of memorandum of understanding (MOU) between NACETEM and each of the technical partners both in academia and industry, the Minister deployed the situation whereby Nigeria, in spite of its population and high level of education, loses billions of Naira yearly in employing expatriate technicians as a result of lack of competent hands.

“Dangote employed about 11,000 welders and other technicians but none of them is a Nigerian,” Chief Nnaji said. “Our welders don’t have the required skill and certification to do the work and Nigeria loses about N10 billion yearly on this alone.”

He added: “That is why I am excited that NACETEM has taken the bold step of collaborating with Federal University of Technology, Minna, Neuro-Linguistics Project (NLP) Limited, Commit Technology and Consult Limited and Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) to prepare Nigerians for this task.

“The National Centre for Technology Management has been at the forefront of our nation’s technological endeavours, tirelessly working towards harnessing and disseminating knowledge, fostering innovation, and driving technological advancements in STI. As we forge partnerships with esteemed organizations from the private sector, we amplify our capacity to drive change and address the dynamic demands of our society.”

Coming from the rich background of an astute businessman, the Minister has been vocal that products of the nation’s research institutes, especially those under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Innovations, Science and Technology, should be commercialized.

Along this line, he added: “Our collaboration with the academia and industry leaders in the fields of key skill-specific post-graduate studies, vocational training and ICT certifications reflects our dedication to equipping our workforce with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in a competitive global landscape. The private sector, with its invaluable expertise and resources, plays a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of our nation’s workforce. By joining forces, we embark on a journey that not only addresses current challenges but also anticipates and prepares for the demands of the future.”

He said these collaborative initiatives were among the programmes of NACETEM which he presented to the recent Presidential Retreat, adding: “This is indeed at the very heart of one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s eight-point Agenda, namely Fostering Economic Growth and Job Creation.”

Congratulating the Director General of NACETEM for the bold and laudable initiative taken by him, the Hon. Minister said although the Chief Executive had been discussing the projects with him, he did not know it was going to be this fast.

Speaking earlier while briefing the Minister about the MoUs, the Director General of NACETEM said the Nigerian economy was in need of skilled workforce, adding that while the universities teach and issue certificates, NACETEM Academy imparts skill-specific expertise in graduates after acquiring degrees in the sciences, engineering and technology.
He said the collaboration aims at preparing hundreds of thousands of graduates and transforming them to skilled work force to enter the industry with necessary skills.

He explained: “This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is forged between the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), an agency under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology; the Federal University of Technology, Minna; and Neuro-Linguistic Programming Limited (NLP Nigeria), as well as Commit Technology and Consult Limited. This collaborative initiative aims to provide comprehensive postgraduate training in technology management, vocational skills, and certifications to meet the demands of the dynamic technological ecosystem.

“The MoU, signed with a shared vision of addressing the growing need for skilled professionals in technology management, establishes a framework for collaboration in designing and delivering specialized programs. The partnership leverages the unique strengths of each entity – the academic rigor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna; the strategic policy oversight of the National Centre for Technology Management; and the industry expertise of Neuro-Linguistic Programming Limited and Commit Technology and Consult Limited.”
According to Dr. Odusanya, by leveraging the strengths of academia, government, and industry, the collaborative programs are poised to produce graduates with a holistic skill set, ready to navigate and contribute to the complexities of the modern technological landscape.

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Speaking one after the other at the ceremony, the representatives of the technical partners, namely, the Vice Chancellor of FUT, Minna, Professor Faruk Adamu Kuta, as well as the Country Representative of NLP Limited, Mr. Rajiv Sharma, and Executive Vice Chairman of Commit Technology and Consult Limited, Dr. Niran Oyekale, were upbeat about the collaboration with NACETEM.

The ceremony was attended by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr. James Sule, the acting Director of Legal Services in the ministry, among others.
NACETEM is a mandate research institute with the vision of being an internationally recognised centre of excellence in science, technology and innovation management for sustainable development.