By Seun Adams
Determined to make Nigeria a hub and supplier of Agro-Allied technologies, equipment and machinery toward the development of the agric sector, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has peformed the ground-breaking and foundation laying ceremony of new Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute(AMEDI) in Lafia, Nasarawa State for North-central geo-political zone.
Recall that President Buhari, approved the establishment of 6 agricultural machinery and equipment development institutes, 1 per geo-political zones of the country and another 6 industrial machinery and equipment development institute spread across the geo-political zones of the country.
The intention of the federal government, according to Mr. Segun Ayeoyenikan, the Deputy Director, Communications/PR National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), is to reduce the importation and to stop Nigeria’s continued reliance on foreign technologies for agricultural implements and also to conserve foreign exchange.
In his address the Executive Vice chairman/Chief Executive of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Haruna said: “It was a case of promise kept by President Buhari’s Administration as the establishment of the institutes targets the provision of 10 million jobs for unemployed Nigerian youths through economic diversification, especially exploring the gains of agriculture in nation building”
Speaking while performing the laying ceremony, Gambari, said AMEDI Lafia ground-breaking ceremony symbolised federal government’s commitment to the development of a technology based national economy, noting that one of the prominent issues in public discourse is how to boost the economy of the country through deployment of technologies.
According to him, AMEDI, Lafia just like other five AMEDIs, is expected to host a demonstration farm which would serve as Pilot Farm to showcase new farming methods using modern techniques in agricultural processing, innovation and technologies and a means of providing extension services to Nigerian farmers and Agro-allied industries in the country.
“Today we are here to kick-off another flagship project with the establishment of AMEDI Lafia, building on the remarkable success of the other NASENI development institutes across the country, we are confident that AMEDI Lafia will serve as the cradle for nurturing professional engineers and scientists who are proficient in the design and manufacturing of diverse agricultural machinery and equipment.
“I am sure that AMEDI will in no time emerge as a Centre of Excellence in agricultural machinery and equipment design to enable Nigeria to scale new heights as the Paradise for agricultural produce and a Hub for Agro-allied technologies.” he stated.
The Chief of Staff to the President listed the mandate of AMEDI Lafia to include the development of agricultural machineries, equipment and related technologies and to cede developed products and technologies to the private sector for mass production and commercialization, having the primary focus on the North-Central zone of Nigeria. He added that the new Institute is expected by its mandate to look into solving the agricultural and Agro-allied technology challenges of Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger and Plateau States including the Federal Capital Territory.
While commending President Buhari, the CoS, who was represented at the occasion by Ambassador Abdullahi Omaki, Special Assistant to President on Foreign and International Affairs disclosed that the President approved the establishment of 6 AMEDIs in the six geopolitical zones of the country and also saluted the courage and commitment of the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule for taking the bull by the horns to make a request to the President for this far-reaching institute to be sited in Nasarawa State even as he appreciated the visionary leadership of the NASENI boss for his roles in ensuring that the project saw the light of the day.
He however noted that a lot was being expected of NASENI and AMEDI, Lafia at full operation by local farmers, entrepreneurs and Agro-allied industries. “The Presidency will constantly provide the needed support for AMEDI and NASENI in developing new products to promote a diversified economy for our beloved nation. “Home-initiated and home sustained industrialization is key to achieving a sustainable economic recovery for Nigeria because, according to him, technology is the secret of the Asian, the magic of Europe and the culture of the Americans” he stressed.
In a similar development, the ground-breaking ceremony of the permanent site for NASENI Skill Development Center, North Zonal Engineering and Science Integrated Laboratory also was performed by the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State Engr. Abdulahi Sule in Keffi. The Skill Development Centre is to train and develop middle level manpower with focus on employability in selected occupational areas, provide and improve training standards and ensure that the right technical and vocational skills needed by local industries are available. The Centre would also focus on empowering the youths with multiple technical and entrepreneurial skills for job and wealth creation, certify the skills and competence of trainees for acceptance in the labour market.
In his speech at the ceremony, Governor Sule said in order to improve the performance of the industrial work force in the economy, there is need for training for skills acquisition and improvement of work process. According to him, Nasarawa State indeed was blessed to have the two noteworthy projects being established in the state, adding that the NASENI Skill Development Centre, Keffi also targets making Nigeria a Hub for Agro- allied technologies. The centre will serve as a knowledge transfer organization for the development of traditional designs, improvement of indigenous technology, including standardization aimed at quality control with a view to enhance marketability of products developed through adoption of indigenous knowledge and home-based technologies and methods”, he explained.
While giving details on the operations of the Centre, Haruna, noted that the Skill Centre will facilitate job creation and economic empowerment of the teaming populace of Nasarawa State especially the youths and that the establishment of the centre would also help the nation to leapfrog into the 4th Industrial revolution” We cannot afford to be left behind as low technology base is the bane of any underdeveloped nation” prof. Haruna Stressed.