As the Federal Government flags-off the construction of the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute in Lafia, Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has issued the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the permanent site of the institute, in order to facilitate smooth take-off of the project.
Engineer Sule presented the C of O to the Executive Vice-Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), during the ground-breaking of the project in Lafia, on Monday.
This is just as the Governor equally donated a Hilux van as project inspection vehicle, as a demonstration of the seriousness with which his administration takes the project.
According to Engineer Sule, his administration decided to issue the C of O of the site to NASENI, as well as waved every charge associated with the certificate, in order to clear away any encumbrance and to facilitate for the immediate take-off of the project.
The Governor assured the NASENI of his commitment to provide constant supervision at the project site.
Delivering his speech at the ground-breaking ceremony, Engineer Sule, commended the Federal Government for establishing the AMEDI, aimed at creating wealth and poverty alleviation, as well as transforming the agricultural sector into an industrial hub, through job creation, youth empowerment and skills acquisition for value addition.
He emphasized that, the intervention of the Federal Government in the conception and siting of the project, is predicated on the believe that 80 percent of the world economy is driven by Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT).
He said Nigeria has to join the league by keying into the current trend of doing business through the application of the AMT, in place of the conventional manufacturing technologies, in order to catch up with global competitiveness.
Engineer Sule used the opportunity to highlight on some of the policy thrust of his administration, especially the deliberate effort to create wealth, build human capacities and employment generation.
“It’s for this reason that we developed the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), to drive the economy of the state. We have also established the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Skills Acquisition Centre, with a view to enhance skill development and facilitate ease of doing business,” he stated.
He expressed appreciation that, already, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), has taken over the management and running of the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational and Skills Acquisition Centre.
While appreciating the Federal Government for choosing Nasarawa State to establish the project, the Governor specially commended the EVC of NASENI, Professor Mohammed Sani Haruna, an illustrious son of the state, for his visionary leadership and for facilitating the establishment of the AMEDI in Lafia.
In his speech, Executive Vice-Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Haruna, said the event was part of the Federal Government’s intervention in agriculture to revolutionize farming and food processing in Nigeria through the use of technology.
He said that the institute had the mandate of building on the successes of NASENI in the production of agricultural equipment from cultivation through the food value chain to post-harvest, processing and food preservation.
Prof Haruna said that the institute would serve as a pilot location for the implementation of the agreement between Nigeria and Czech Republic on research, development of equipment and training of Nigerians in the field of agriculture.
He said that the institute would also focus on processing agricultural waste to renewable energy.
“The institute will also serve as a pilot location for the implementation of agreement between NASENI and a Jordanian agency on food safety to guarantee quality and acceptability of Nigeria’s farm produce for export,” Prof Haruna added.
In a goodwill message, Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, commended NASENI for championing the course of technological innovation and advancement in the country.
Represented by Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to the President on Foreign Affairs and Development Strategies, Amb. Abdullahi Omaki, Prof Gambari assured that the present administration would continue to leverage science and technology to drive agricultural development in the country.
Also, in a goodwill message, former governor of the state, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura, recalled that during the time he served as governor, Nasarawa State benefited immensely from NASENI, in the effort to ensure alleviation of grappling issues confronting the state.
He particularly recalled how NASENI came to the rescue of the state to alleviate debilitating epileptic power supply in Lafia, the state capital, through the provision of solar power to critical institutions like DASH.
“Today, Nasarawa State is yielding even greater benefit from this partnership, through the commitment, doggedness and perseverance of our amiable Governor, Engineer A. A Sule, who has hold NASENI as close as possible for the development of the state,” Al-makura added.
