The Federal Government has announced plans to extend rail services from Abuja to Zaria, Kaduna, Kano, Daura and Katsina, with the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Olufunsho Adebiyi, saying the project would create new employment opportunities.
Adebiyi disclosed this on Friday at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, Kaduna State.
He said the Federal Government was investing heavily in transport infrastructure and urged the graduands to acquire the skills needed to benefit from emerging opportunities in the sector.
“By January next year, you can join a train from Abuja to Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, Daura, and Katsina,” the permanent secretary said.
Adebiyi, who is a former student of NITT, said the training he received at the institution in 1995, alongside other professional programmes, contributed significantly to his career development.
He commended the institute for its contribution to manpower development in Nigeria’s transport sector through professional training, capacity building and research.
The permanent secretary also announced automatic employment for the two overall best graduating students and offered them scholarships to pursue degree programmes.
He urged members of the National Assembly to support similar scholarship initiatives, saying investments in education and skills development could empower young Nigerians and contribute to efforts to tackle crime and insecurity.
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In his welcome address, the Director-General and Chief Executive of NITT, Bayero Salih Farah, said the maiden convocation followed the institute’s expansion into National Board for Technical Education-accredited programmes in 2021.
He said the expansion had enabled NITT to offer National Innovation Diploma, National Skills Qualification, National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programmes.
Farah said the institute remained committed to professionalising Nigeria’s transport and logistics industry through education, professional training, research, consultancy and technical innovation.
“Our programmes combine theory with practical application and expose students to current industry developments,” he said.
He added that NITT would continue to review its curriculum to reflect emerging requirements in the transport and logistics industry.
Farah also appreciated the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, for sponsoring more than 200 students under his scholarship programme and urged the graduands to become good ambassadors of the institution.
Represented by the Director of the National Water Resources Institute, Abduljalal Danbaba, Abbas congratulated the graduands and encouraged them to apply their knowledge and skills productively.
The ceremony featured the presentation of prizes to outstanding students, while more than 200 graduands received certificates and diplomas in various transport and logistics-related programmes.
Graduands of the National Vocational Certificate programme also received starter kits alongside their certificates to support them in applying their newly acquired skills.
The event was attended by the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, represented by Abbas Ahmed Fatika; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Bello Sabo, representing the Vice-Chancellor; and the Director, Transport Planning and Coordination, Jane Ojinta, among other dignitaries.