The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has handed over the University of Ibadan Vocational School to the tertiary institution.
The board said it constructed the vocational school in line with its capacity-building mandate and the Nigerian Content 10-year Strategic Roadmap.
Handing over the facility to the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, described the feat as a milestone in Nigerian content development.
He said the strength of Nigeria’s economy and prosperity was in the hands of craftsmen, artisans and gifted workmen.
He said the University of Ibadan, situated in Oyo Central Senatorial zone, was represented by Senator Teslim Folarin, who served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content and had supported the activities of the NCDMB immensely.
Wabote described the event as a great opportunity to assess the Nigerian content journey and the status of the 10-year strategic road map.
He said the vocational school was expected to produce top-rated craftsmen, artisans and gifted workmen, who would help Nigeria change the narrative of dependence on imported goods and equipment to full reliance on Nigerian-made products.
The NCDMB’s boss noted that the University of Ibadan was Nigeria’s premier university and renowned for academic success, as he challenged the centre to kick-start the much-needed Nigerian industrial revolution.
“With the rapid advancement of technologies and skills required now and for the energy transition and the future of the oil and gas industry, the inauguration of this vocational school is a clarion call to the University of Ibadan to lead in the establishment of the Nigerian competitive advantage once again,” he said.
Wabote stated that the scope of works executed at the centre include construction of the main building consisting of three workshops and three classrooms, each for mechanical, electrical and welding and fabrication trades as well as offices for the centre’s director, admin staff and receptionist.
He said the board’s investment also include the construction of generator and gate houses, provision of a borehole and water storage facility, fencing and landscaping of the centre’s premises, provision and installation of 500KVA generator and training of technical teachers to use the installed equipment.
He advised the university community and stakeholders to ensure adequate maintenance of installed facilities, support in the sustainability and appointment of high-quality personnel so that the huge investment would be justified.
The University of Ibadan Vocational School, according to the NCDMB, was the third vocational school the board would be developing.
In his remarks, Senator Folarin expressed delight that he facilitated the establishment of the multi billion naira hi-tech skills acquisition centre.
He stated that the facility was designed and constructed as a one-stop platform to train Oyo State citizens in different skills across oil and gas and other sectors of the Nigerian economy.
