The Federal Government has announced plans to extend rail services from Abuja through Kaduna, Zaria and Kano to Daura and Katsina, saying the project will create new employment opportunities for Nigerians.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Olufunsho Adebiyi, disclosed this on Friday at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, Kaduna State.
Adebiyi said the government was investing heavily in transport infrastructure and urged the graduands to develop the skills needed to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the sector.
“By January next year, you can join a train from Abuja to Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, Daura, and Katsina,” he said.
The permanent secretary, who is a former student of NITT, said the training he received at the institute in 1995, alongside other professional programmes, had contributed significantly to his career development.
He commended NITT for its contribution to manpower development in the transport sector through professional training, capacity building and research.
Adebiyi also praised the institute’s Director-General and Chief Executive, Bayero Salih Farah, describing him as a dedicated and hardworking leader.
He announced automatic employment for the two overall best graduating students and offered them scholarships to pursue degree programmes.
The permanent secretary also urged members of the National Assembly to support similar scholarship initiatives, citing the programme sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
He said such interventions could help empower young Nigerians and contribute to efforts to address crime and insecurity.
In his welcome address, Farah said the maiden convocation marked an important stage in the institute’s expansion into programmes accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in 2021.
He said the expansion had enabled NITT to offer National Innovation Diploma, National Skills Qualification, National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programmes.
According to Farah, the institute is focused on 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 changing industry requirements.
Farah thanked Abbas for sponsoring more than 200 students through his scholarship programme and urged the graduands to uphold the reputation of the institution.
Represented by the Director of the National Water Resources Institute, Abduljalal Danbaba, Abbas congratulated the graduands, particularly beneficiaries of his scholarship scheme, 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 to enable them to put their training into practice.
The ceremony 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, who represented the vice-chancellor; and the Director of Transport Planning and Coordination, Jane Ojinta, among other dignitaries.
