Governor Abdullahi Sule and Engineer Jelani Aliyu, former Director General of National Automotive Design and Development Council and renowned car designer, featured in the maiden Engr. A.A Sule Colloquium, where they mentored youths from across the state on the use of technology and skills acquisition.
With participants drawn from across technology and vocational institutions across the state, the colloquium held at the Late Aliyu Akwe Doma Banquet Hall, Government House Lafia on Thursday.
Speaking Governor Sule said the idea behind organizing the colloquium was to afford youths in the state the opportunity to listen to successful individuals with a view to learning from their experiences, as well as to encourage them to acquire skills.
While emphasizing on the significance of technology and the necessity for acquiring skills, the Governor took time to explain the policy drive of his administration especially in the areas of education and skills acquisition.
Recounting how he was able to use his skills in shielded arc wielding and oxyaceteline welding acquired at the Government Technical College Bukuru to support his education at the Virginia State University in the US, Governor Sule said his vision is to create institutions in Nasarawa State that would be on the radar of employers of labour through tracking as obtained in developed societies.
He spoke about the challenges he faced while still at the university, particularly his inability to access his scholarship allowances due to political differences between the then government of Plateau State which was NPP and the NPN controlled Federal Government.
“The only way out was for me to go and look for a job as a weilder even as a student. Being a certified weilder that I was, and still am, I got a job with Alkowa Energy. I got the work, and then I can work as both weilder and iron bender at night and to be able to pay for my hostel. I was making $3.75 an hour. The more hours you work, the more you get paid. That was a lot of money at the time,” he said.
He called on especially the youths to seek to acquire skills that would make them successful in life, especially with the present challenges of employment in the country.
Governor Sule pointed out that with the emergence of industries in the state, it is the vision of his administration to groom and train Nasarawa citizens towards meeting both internal and external demands of certified technicians.
“The idea is to train and groom sufficient technicians to fill industrial needs, especially with the coming of companies such as SaroAfrica, Avarta, Jualin Mining Company and others. Our vision is to establish an institution that industries would track. That is what I want to bring to Nasarawa State,” he stated.
He said it is high time Nigerians de-emphasize going to school in order to obtain only certificates but to imbibe the culture of skills acquisition.
He narrated that when he returned to the United States for the second time following his tracking by employers of labour, he got a job in the oil and gas sector based on his skills and not his educational qualifications.
“I worked with Jos Steel Rolling Mills, where I rose to the position of Principal Production Engineer on the line. I later returned to the US. On the day I was going for my interview on my return to Houston, Texas, to work in the oil and gas sector, the first interview that I was invited by a company called Drill Equip, I carried all my certificates, my City & Guild Part 1 and 2, photocopies of my first degree and masters degree, my NYSC certificate. I carried everything along with me, hoping that they would ask me to show my certificates.
“They never asked me. The first thing the guy asked me was what kinds of CNC machines do know how to operate? I said I know how to operate lathe machines, vertical drilling machines, milling machines, the saw, and drilling machines. He said can you programme them. I said yes. He said what is the first line of programme. I said J-50 to set your coordinates, and then you can take your x, y, and z coordinates. He told me I got a job. He never asked me for my certificate. My certificate was not what got me the job,” he said.
The Governor pointed out that there is no short cut to success, urging the youths to imbibe the spirit of hard work in order to be able to attain their dreams in life.
Guest speaker at the event, Engineer Jelani Aliyu, commended Governor Sule for providing the environment for growth and development in Nasarawa State.
“What you have in Nasarawa State is the convergence of super leadership and opportunities,” he said.
Speaking on the theme of the event, ‘Technical-Driven Entrepreneurship as a Panacea for Unemployment and Catalyst for Economic Growth & Development’, Engineer Aliyu, called on the youths to individually and collectively focus on progressive opportunities and solutions, with a view to reawaken the possibilities in them.
“It all starts in the mind. If you can imagine it and clearly see it in your mind, then you are halfway there. You can easily strategies, jump into action and bring it into reality. Nothing is impossible,” he stated.
Engineer Aliyu, who started the production of electrical cars in Nigeria while he was still the Director General of National Automotive Design and Development Council and inspite of challenges of power in the country, said all great nations of the world leverage on technology to advance its people.
“Why technology? Why now? Why us? Technology is coming up with solutions that make your lives better. Cell phones, electric cars, AI. The bottom line is technology makes our lives easier. Why now and why us. Now, because this is the focus of all. Every great nation is leveraging technology to advance its people. Why us? Because we are special. Africa is the land of the pyramids of Egypt where thousands of years ago super structures couple of feet talk were built. We have the Edo Empire in Nigeria. We all are special people with great heritage. We must not let ourselves to be left behind,” he said.
He recounted his life experiences from his birth in Sokoto to the time he got into the limelight at the General Motors in the US, reiterating earlier calls for the youths to not only imbibe the spirit of hard work but also acquire necessary skills.
“We must understand that relevant technology and unleash it to our people and advance their lives. We must not ever be afraid of advanced technology. We can never allow ourselves to be defined by our problem,” he said.
Convener of the colloquium, Engineer Rajab Kabir Ogiri, said the idea behind organizing the event was to compliment the development strides of Governor Sule with special focus on education and skills acquisition.
Earlier In an opening remarks, Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, PhD, said the colloquium on Governor Sule is a testament of his relentless efforts and commitment to the socioeconomic development of the state, particularly in the area of skills acquisition and education. (www.krestnews.com).