In other to boost electricity meter usage and encouraged local content driven, the Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Ltd. (MEMMCOL), has called on the Federal Government to increase its support and encouragement to indigenous meter manufacturers, to bridge the nation’s metering gap.
This was revealed at the recently held graduation ceremony for participants of its five-week Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design and fabrication programme. The ceremony marked the completion of training for ten Offa youths selected for the first phase of the programme coordinated by One Innovation Hub, Offa, Kwara State, MMS and Summit University, Offa, Kwara State.
During the ceremony, Engr. Kola Balogun, the Chairman of Momas Group, congratulated the graduands on their successful training.
Speaking on the training course, he said the PCB fabrication design had never been done in any of the higher institutions or skill acquisition centres in the country. He pointed that the idea behind the training was to reposition Nigerian youths for the global digital economy.
“We want to represent our youths, especially those in the science domain to be able to key into global Artificial Intelligence (AI) space.
Balogun said: “Nigerians are known to be users of computers and telephone, but we do not manufacture these things. “We are using this platform to be able to train youths to design these digital technologies and the fundamental foundation of designing electronic device is the PCD. The PCD is where you plug all your components to do the magic,” he added.
According to him, each of the graduand is a macro business enterprise as a unit and has the capacity to design and fabricate for all the global digital industries across the globe.
He said that the company’s efforts in empowering youths and women with skill acquisition had attracted grant from German government to establish a skill acquisition institution.
“We have a database for all our students, to ensure that they comply with all the regulations in their curriculum. So, this will help them hold on to the discipline that is required to sustain what they have learnt. The setback we are having today is that most of the youths are losing their virtues and character that drives good knowledge. We are always preaching virtue, discipline and attitudinal change for us to be able to sustain the knowledge we are imparting on these youths,” he said.
The Chairman also highlighted the need to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies in providing innovative solutions to local problems and the importance of including Industry 4.0 technology in all stages of the economy.
In his goodwill message, Professor Abiodun Musa Aibinu, the Vice-Chancellor of Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, commended the Momas Group Chairman for his unwavering efforts towards youth capacity building and development.
Momas Metering School Offa Kwara StateProfessor Abiodun Musa Aibinu, the Vice-Chancellor of Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, speaking at the Momas Metering School Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design and fabrication graduation programme
He assured the audience that the knowledge and experience gained by the graduates would be properly utilized in achieving the Offa Smart City initiative.
Professor Aibinu further explained that four of the graduates that are from SUN, Offa were carefully selected among their peers and would be given office space at the Research and Innovation Unit on campus to domesticate the knowledge they have gained and transform final year projects on campus into market-ready prototypes.
He also announced that efforts would be made to seek funding via research grants to embark on various projects that would help solve electrical challenges in the university and the city.
Also speaking, Dr Waheed Olagunju, Chairman, One Innovation Hub, said that Nigerians needed to be well educated, skillful and healthy to eradicate poverty in the country by 2030, pointing out that the training speaks to the skill acquisition aspect.
Olagunju said: “For any nation to be productive, it needs to be skillful and the skills being imparted will enable them navigate the world better.
“We are in a knowledge based economy and PCDs are the heart of electronics. If we are able to produce PCDs, we will be able to produce anything electronics. This would go a long way to helping us achieving our objective of being a smart city and a smart city will play a critical role in driving the Nigerian economy. This is to enable Nigeria play an active role in the international arena that is being driven by the fourth industrial revolution.”
He noted that skill acquisition is very important for Nigeria to achieve its development aspiration as a community and as a country.
He emphasized the importance of electricity, education, and agriculture to Nigeria’s industrialization efforts.
Also speaking at the event, a former President of Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Engineer Olorunfemi Ademola, the Chairman of the Academic Board at MMS, explained the process used to select the candidates for the training and the curriculum that led to the graduation ceremony. He expressed confidence in the graduates’ abilities and welcomed them to join the over 4,000 alumni of MMS.
In her remarks, Eng. Dr. Atinuke Wuraola Owolabi, advised the graduates to adopt the 5-P Policy in their subsequent engagements.
The 5-P Policy initiatives include Purpose, Plan, Passion, Patience, and Pursuit. She suggested ways of decolonizing the skills acquired at MMS and making them beneficial to humanity while also translating those skills beyond PCB making.
The ceremony ended with the presentation of certificates to all the participants and the presentation of special awards to the graduates.
The event was attended by various dignitaries, including Alhaji Rasaq Jaiyeola, the Chief Consultant/CEO of A. J. Silicon-Tech Limited, QS Bisi Salau, Board member of ONEIH, representative of the President of Offa Descendant Union, Alh. Muideen Salako, representative of Summit University, and Mr. Ibrahim Salawu and Hon. Seun Ogunniyi Adato, Member elect, Kwara State House of Assembly and Mr. Muhideen Ibrahim.