The Hon. Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has inaugurated the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute Artisans Training Center in Lagos. The ceremony which took place on 18th May, 2017 at the NBRRI South West Zonal Office, Ikoyi, also saw the Minister launching the Curriculum and Learning Guides for Artisans and Craftsmen that was developed by the Institute for ten(10) Artisan and Craftsmen Grades identified in the construction Industry Skills Gaps in the country.
Speaking during the inauguration, Dr. Onu said NBRRI is among the agencies of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology that have shown dogged commitment and effort towards actualizing the overall objectives of the present administration’s Change Agenda.
The Hon. Minister noted that the Nigerian construction industry is gradually becoming void of skilled manpower; especially the artisans and craftsmen. He added that skilled labour in vocational trades is now imported especially from neighboring West African countries; resulting in a capital flight running into billions of naira annually. As a result of this development, Dr. Onu said NBRRI has set out to address the dwindling level of technical expertise of artisans, by taken some fundamental steps to actualize the training development of some structured artisanal skills identified as critical to the Nigerian construction industry.
The Hon. Minister opined that he has passion as an engineer with years of experience seeking solutions for the benefit of this great country; adding that upon assumption of Office as Minister, he directed NBRRI to identify the skills gaps and trades and address them accordingly. Dr. Onu revealed that he even took personal interest in some new trade concepts such as Glass Painting and perfect brick/block making; and challenged NBRRI to look into them so as to empower this nation from experiences of countries like Poland, US and UK.
He said that he expects that in the coming years, NBRRI will open more centers across Nigeria so that more Artisans will be trained and disclosed that he is working out an arrangement through the statutory representation of the Honorable Minister of Science and Technology on the NBTE Board for NBRRI training outlets and other S&T agencies to receive speedy approval as training providers and regulators in their mandate areas. Dr. Onu finally commended the management of the Institute for the efforts toward repositioning NBRRI and making it a global research center that every Nigerian is proud of under the present Management of the Institute.
Earlier, the Director General/CEO of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, Prof. Danladi S. Matawal said the production of the guides was a consequence of the 2012 National Conference organized by NBRRI to tackle the incessant cases of Building Collapse in Nigeria. He listed the document to be launched to include: Carpentry and Joinery; Electrical Maintenance and Installations; Concreting and Plastering; Painting and Decoration; Plumbing and Water Reticulations; Masonry and Brick Laying; Tiling and Decorative Stonework; Technical Draughtsman and Detailing; Health & Safety in Construction and Iron Bending.
Highpoints of the occasion was the cutting of the tape to officially open the Training Center and Unveiling the ten (10) Curricula and Learning Guides for Artisan and Craftsmen all performed by the Hon. Minister, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. Certifictes were also presented to Participants of a weeklong training organised by NBRRI.
Among dignitaries that witnessed the epoch making event include: The President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAEng), Engr. (Mrs) Joanna Olu Maduka; former President (NAEng) Professor Raifu Isola Salawu; Director General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Dr. Gloria Elemo; Director General of the Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency, Dr. Sam Oghene-Etatuvie, Dean Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos, Prof. Funso Falade.