18 August 2015, Benin—President of Nigeria Institute of Welding, Dr. Solomon Edebiri, has warned that the attainment of vision 20-2020 by the Federal Government will be a mirage if the country fails to develop its steel industry, welding and fabrication capacities.
He gave the warning in Benin, Edo State, at the induction programme for 20 candidates sponsored by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, to the Republic of Turkey for training in advanced welding process.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Mr. Femi Ajayi, has said that in line with its mandate, PTDF has so far trained about 1200 Nigerians in various stages of welding training and certification programmes.
Ajayi, at the induction programme, said that about 40 per cent of the welding graduates were fully integrated in the industry while so many of the qualified welders were being used by the training centres as International Institute of Welding qualified instructors.
However, Edebiri said that Nigeria must be planted in welding capacity and capability in the world while urging the trainees to bridge the gap by building capacities in the identified areas.
He also tasked them to take advantage of the several opportunities opened to them to acquire and improve on their Welding skills with a view to developing Local Content.
– Vanguard
