By Hassan Ibrahim
The Federal Government has announced plans to construct a rail line linking Abuja with Zaria and disclosed that rail services would soon connect Abuja with Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, Daura and Katsina, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s transportation infrastructure and create new employment opportunities for skilled Nigerians.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Adebiyi Olusesan Olufunsho, made the disclosure while declaring open the first maiden Convocation Ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria.
Engr. Olufunsho described the convocation as an important milestone in the history of NITT and commended the Institute for providing professional training and developing manpower capable of responding to the changing requirements of the transport industry.
Demonstrating the government’s commitment to academic excellence and youth empowerment, the Permanent Secretary offered automatic employment to the two overall best graduating students and announced scholarships for them to pursue degree programmes.
He also appealed to members of the National Assembly to emulate the scholarship initiative of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, as a means of empowering Nigerian youths and helping to address crime and insecurity.
Engr. Olufunsho stressed the need for continued cooperation between the government, training institutions and industry stakeholders to ensure that graduates acquire practical competencies that meet contemporary industry demands.
In his speech, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the Director-General of the National Water Resources Institute, Dr. Abduljalal Danbaba, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s transport sector through investment in human capital, technical education, infrastructure, professional training and innovation.
Rt. Hon. Abbas said the Federal Government was pleased with the progress recorded by NITT over the years, particularly its contributions to professional training, capacity building and research in Nigeria’s transport sector.
He said the various qualifications awarded at the ceremony reflected the Institute’s commitment to combining education with practical skills in different areas of the transport industry.
According to him, transportation remains central to the development of every nation, as it connects people and communities, facilitates the movement of goods, supports trade and industry, and contributes significantly to economic growth.
The Speaker stressed that Nigeria’s quest for an efficient and reliable transport system requires not only good roads, railways, ports, waterways and airports, but also competent professionals with the knowledge and skills to plan, operate, maintain and manage them effectively.
He therefore urged the graduating students, who were the first set to graduate from NITT under the new convocation arrangement, to use their education and skills to make meaningful contributions to the development of the country.
Also speaking, the Emir of Zazzau, Malam Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, represented by the Sarkin Fadan Zazzau, Alhaji Abbas Ahmad Fatika, described the convocation as the culmination of years of hard work, discipline, sacrifice and determination by the students, supported by their parents, guardians, lecturers and the academic community.
He reminded the graduates that education goes beyond the acquisition of certificates, urging them to combine their qualifications with good character, humility, integrity and a strong sense of responsibility.
In his welcome address, the Director-General/Chief Executive of NITT, Dr. Bayero Salih Farah, said the Institute had expanded its capacity through education, professional training, research, consultancy and technological innovation.
Dr. Farah said NITT’s programmes were designed to provide students with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience relevant to transport technology, logistics, supply chain management, road safety, infrastructure and emerging areas of the industry.
He disclosed that the Institute had invested in modern workshops, laboratories, research facilities and industry partnerships to prepare graduates for the demands of the workplace.
The NITT Director-General also acknowledged the Federal Government’s investment in the development of the Institute, particularly in the provision of modern workshops and laboratory facilities.
Dr. Farah specially thanked the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, for sponsoring more than 200 students through his scholarship programme.
He congratulated the graduands and urged them to be good ambassadors of the Institute.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of prizes to academically outstanding students in recognition of their exceptional performance and commitment to academic excellence.
More than 200 students were awarded certificates and diplomas in various transport- and logistics-related programmes, while National Vocational Certificate (NVC) graduands received starter kits in addition to their certificates.
The first convocation ceremony marked a major milestone in the history of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria, bringing together government representatives, traditional leaders, academics, industry stakeholders, parents, guardians and students to celebrate the Institute’s contribution to the development of Nigeria’s transport workforce.
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