In an effort to foster capacity development in Africa’s second largest economy, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has launched a railway technology training center in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital.

According to cp-Africa, the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Deng Boqing, said at the opening ceremony of the Idu Training Center that the launching of the technical institution was in line with the implementation of goals set by the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) which took place in July in the capital city of Beijing.

With the collaboration, Nigeria stands to benefit from China, the leading country in railway systems and modern railway technology.

“We are creating a link between the construction industry and the local technicians and artisans in a way that brings them up to the standard that can match our needs as well as address the structural unemployment concerns of the country,” said Jonathan Olopade, the Honorary President of the training center.

Qi Xiaotian, a top management member of the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), said that the training scheme which would develop local artisans and technicians to manage Nigeria’s construction industry, was necessary and timely considering the stronger political will of the government and the improvement of Nigerian modern railways and urban mass transit rail systems in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve.

The amount of migration into the steadily growing two Nigerian cities has catapulted population and rate of transportation in the states necessitating the expansion and development of railway transport to relieve the already overburdened road transport network.

“We are starting off with the Abuja Training School and our intent is that in due time, we will move to Lagos and some other parts of the country,” Olapade added.

 

 

Source: http://www.ventures-africa.com