The Executive Vice Chairman, State/ Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammed Haruna, yesterday expressed confidence that Nigeria would be part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
He spoke in Calabar, Cross River State, during the flag-off of the training of 100 youths on the modern methods of electrical installations and maintenance under the NASENI’s skills acquisition training and Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP).
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He said the programme was part of the implementation of Buhari’s directive to NASENI to ensure the development of skills necessary for job creation and self-employment.
“Technology is changing and those with old skills in electrical installations are losing jobs because new techniques for either trouble-shooting and handling of electrical installations are coming to the industry.
“Development in cutting edge technologies or frontier technologies as the innovations that are shaping the fourth industrial revolution is no doubt disrupting many things and introducing constant changes and standards.
“These technologies include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, the Internet of Things (IOT), Big Data, Block Chain, Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing), Autonomous Vehicles, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles; Gene Editing, 5G Networks and even Smart Grid and agitations for wireless electricity. Every aspect of human endeavour, agriculture, health, industry, transports, hospitality etc all now require electricity however advanced electricity energy,” he said.
Haruna said Buhari had continued to empower NASENI to lead Nigeria in the direction of a manufacturing economy.
According to him, this type of skill development is a prerequisite for the development of a competent workforce for the country.
“This training is, therefore, to familiarise the trainees not only on the current advances of the new and emerging technologies in electrical installations, repairs and maintenance but also prepare and equip them and build adequate competencies to meet the challenges and opportunities of the development anticipated of the shape and nature of the next Industrial Revolution.”
Cross River State Governor Benedict Ayade, represented by his deputy, Ivara Esu, who was the special guest at the occasion, thanked NASENI for the training.
Ochiglegor Igbado, a member of the House of Representatives, who chaired the occasion, said without focus on self-employment and reskilling of youths, it is practically impossible to create adequate jobs because of the large number of unemployed youths coming out of schools.
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