December 4, 2023
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
The Federal Government on Monday in Abuja, inaugurated the national policy on welding and welding-related fields, and its strategy implementation action plan.
Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, said the inauguration was in response to the long-standing issue of neglect and lack of regulation in the welding sector.
The minister disclosed that in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of welding (NIW) and other relevant stakeholders, the policy was developed and approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in October 2022.
“This policy is a crucial step towards promoting the local production of goods and empowering Nigerian welders to work locally and internationally.
“It underscores our readiness to support innovation, science and technology (IST) development efforts to make Nigeria great.
“This policy, along with its strategy implementation plan, is a significant step towards promoting the local production of goods and empowering Nigerian welders to work,’’ he said.
According to the minister, the current global challenges make it more crucial to enhance local content utilisation and make Nigeria an export-oriented country for finished products and welding personnel.
He assured that apart from creating employment opportunities, the policy would also contribute to the overall industrialisation of Nigeria.
Nnaji said that in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government would collaborate with the Nigeria Institute of Welding, to establish six centres of welding excellence in six geopolitical zones.
“These centres will provide training and ISO Certification to local welders, empowering them to work locally and internationally.
“The initiative aims to promote local content utilisation in alignment with the objectives of Presidential Executive Order No. 5, which seeks to boost local content production.
“Implementing this policy is vital for the growth of the manufacturing industry and is a crucial component of our industralisation efforts,’’ Nnaji said.
James Sule, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, noted that prior to approval of the policy by government, not much was known about the welding sector, as it was getting little or no attention.
Sule said welding practice all over the world was very critical as it impacted directly on the economy, either developed or developing, as welding was the bedrock of every socioeconomic development.
He maintained that there was need to encourage and promote the welding practice, to maximise the inherent potentials of this untapped sector of the nigerian economy.
The permanent secretary reiterated Federal Government’s recognition of the importance of welding in the nation’s economic development.
Hence, in 2014, approved the National Skills Qualification Framework, to strengthen the sector and create a career path for persons willing to learn necessary skills in welding.
The National President, Nigeria Institute of Welding, Dr Solomon Edebiri, remarked that proper implementation of the policy would save Nigeria over 10 billion dollars lost annually to capital flight.
He attributed this to importation of various cadres of welding personnel into the country for some unjustifiable reasons, either for reason of equity funding on projects, or in the name of technical partners’ interest.
“Most times, they adduce this to lack of competencies in specific welding processes.
“I am glad with the provision of training in this policy, this incompetency claim shall be a thing of the past,’’ Edebiri said.
He expressed optimism that the policy would re-order Nigeria’s path to national economy.
