Federal Government has launched a new Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute(AMEDI) and NASENI Skill Development Center, in Lafia, Nasarawa State for the North Central geo-political zone to reduce importation and continued reliance on foreign technologies for agricultural implements.
At the ceremony, the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari said the intention of Federal Government was to reduce the importation of agricultural implements and develop the Agric sector.
He noted that the federal government was determined to make Nigeria a hub and supplier of Agro-Allied technologies and conserve foreign exchange.
The Chief of Staff to the President listed the mandate of AMEDI Lafia to include the development of agricultural machinery, equipment, and related technologies and to cede developed products and technologies to the private sector for mass production and commercialization, to solve the agricultural and Agro-allied technology challenges of Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger and Plateau States including the Federal Capital
The Chief of staff who was represented by the Special Assistant to President on Foreign & International Affairs Ambassador Abdullahi Omaki, disclosed that the President had approved the establishment of six AMEDIs in the six geopolitical zones of the country and also saluted the courage and commitment of the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule for taking the bull by the horns to make a request to Mr. President for this far-reaching institute to be sited in Nasarawa State.
The Executive Vice chairman/Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Prof. Mohammed Haruna said the gesture was a fulfillment of the promise made by President Muhammadu Buhari to create ten million jobs.
“it was a case of a promise kept by President Buhari’s administration as the establishment of the Agric machinery institute Lafia, targets the provision of 10 million jobs for unemployed Nigerian youths through economic diversification, especially exploring the gains of agriculture in nation building”
While giving details on the operations of the Centre the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI noted that the Skill Centre will facilitate job creation and economic empowerment of the teaming populace of Nasarawa State, especially the youths.
The Governor of Nasarawa State Abdullahi Sule said the skill Development Centre is to train and develop middle-level manpower with a focus on employability in selected occupational areas, and to ensure that the right technical and vocational skills needed by local industries are available.
The Centre would also focus on empowering the youths with multiple technical and entrepreneurial skills for job and wealth creation.
RN