19 Noember 2013, Abuja – The Bostwana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) has offered to train at least 200 Nigerian students in oil and gas related courses.
The 200 Nigerian students are expected to be poached from among the 3,000 recently announced by President Goodluck Jonathan to be trained abroad in oil and gas-related courses.
BIUST, which is the second national university in Botswana and the second largest investment by the government of Botswana stated that it was established principally to restitute Africa’s pride through sustainable science and technology education.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Nigeria’s Prof. Hilary Iyang, who hosted a press conference to announce the university to Nigerian community said a delegation from the university would be in the country next month to discuss the modalities for admission of the 200 Nigerians with the management of Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF), which manages the study scheme.
He explained that science and technology, which remained the engine room of national development but had been relegated to the background in Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria, which has dedicated less of its income to the development of science and technology has a lot to learn from Botswana in terms of good governance and sustainable management system.
Inyang also disclosed that the BIUST had integrated science and technology into the country’s entrepreneurship system, noting that the absence of manufacturing has been a major challenge confronting Nigeria and indeed many African countries.
“Bostwana has very good governance system; it’s a very well governed country. Nigeria has much more complexity. Science does well in an organised system whereas science and technology have been pushed to the background too much in Nigeria. There is not much organisation in science and technology system in Nigeria,” he said.
He added: “Nigeria has dedicated much less of its income to science and technology. The country has to channel its strength in the area of science and technology.”
Meanwhile, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) has gained new commitment from the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) of government to fund its capacity advancement plans in Nigeria’s power sector.
The Director General of NAPTIN, Reuben Okeke, stated recently in Abuja that SURE-P had taken to fund its construction of a power systems laboratory to be located at one of its regional training centre in Oji River, Enugu state.
– This Day
