Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has revealed that Nigeria incurs a staggering annual loss of $10 billion due to the employment of imported certified welders across various sectors of the economy.
Speaking at a signing ceremony for an academic and industry collaboration Memorandum of Understanding between the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA), and Neuro-Linguistic Programming Limited, the minister emphasized the need for concerted efforts to strengthen local content development in the country.
Nnaji expressed his profound concern about the prevalent trend and urged stakeholders to take immediate action to reverse it. Pointing to the recently commissioned Dangote Refinery as an example, he lamented that out of approximately 11,000 welders employed, not a single one was Nigerian.
He highlighted the significant disparity between the approximately one million welders in Nigeria and the absence of international certification among them, preventing their participation in the country’s lucrative oil and gas sectors.
The minister underscored the scarcity of skilled artisans and manpower, stressing that the dearth extends beyond digital expertise. He underscored the importance of addressing this issue by partnering with the Nigerian Welding Association to establish training hubs in the six geopolitical zones of the country.
The objective of these hubs would be to provide comprehensive training to welders and equip them with internationally recognized ISO certification, thereby granting them the necessary permissions to work both domestically and abroad. Nnaji firmly stated that if Nigeria could cultivate a proficient pool of welders domestically, there would be no need to rely on imports.
Nnaji also highlighted the immense economic impact of the current situation. He estimated that Nigeria’s failure to develop and certify local welders results in an annual loss of over $10 billion. The average wage for a welder typically stands at approximately $150 per day. Citing the ongoing AKK pipeline project as another instance, he noted with disappointment that most of the welders involved were sourced from countries such as Pakistan, India, and China, completely sidelining Nigerian talent.
Director General of NACETEM, Olusola Odusanya, emphasized that the academic program established through the collaborative effort would play a pivotal role in cultivating technological skills among candidates, facilitating their international recognition and acceptance.
Vice Chancellor of FUT Minna, Faruk Kuta, expressed satisfaction with the partnership with NACETEM, citing the university’s enthusiasm in training and developing middle and high-level skilled professionals in the sector.
Minister Uche Nnaji’s revelation of Nigeria’s $10 billion annual losses due to imported welders raises significant concerns about the lack of certified local talent in key sectors of the economy.
The urgent need to invest in comprehensive training programs and provide international certification for welders becomes evident as a means to bridge this gap and stimulate economic growth through enhanced local content development.
