How Nigeria can develop manpower for modern technologies, by Onyia

A Senior Researcher and Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Engr. Uzor Onyia, MNSE, MNICE, has challenged Nigeria to develop human and organizational capabilities to operate, maintain and optimise modern technologies.

He said Nigeria must move beyond the mere acquisition of advanced technologies, stating Nigeria cannot import itself into full industrialisation. 

He spoke at the 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Lekki-Epe, Lagos.

The founder/Executive Director of the Society for Creativity and Innovative Development (SCID,) owners of EngineeringXpress.org, stakeholders coalition for capacity building, attended the open session as a Special Guest at the 6th Adeola Odutola Lecture/ Presidential Luncheon of the 54th AGM of MAN, engaging with senior representatives of Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, industry leaders, policymakers, academics and other stakeholders on issues affecting industrial development and technological competitiveness in Nigeria.

He served as a Speaker at the Creativity and Innovation Management Unit (CIMU) of MAN’s Value-Add Session themed “Bridging Industrial Skill Gaps with Smart & Additive Manufacturing: A Manufacturing Imperative.”

The session examined the changing skills requirements associated with Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0, with particular attention to artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), data analytics, digital manufacturing and additive manufacturing.

According to him: “If we import robots, AI systems, 3D printers, CNC machines, automation equipment, and continue importing the people who configure, repair and optimize them, then we have not fully developed our industrial capability.

‘’We have simply developed technological dependence. Our ultimate objective should therefore be to import technology where necessary but build the capability to understand, adapt, maintain, improve and eventually develop that technology locally. That is how our technology transfer becomes industrial development.”

He further advocated for stronger industry–academia partnerships, competency-based training, apprenticeships, industrial internships, shared technology centres and continuous reskilling and upskilling of the existing workforce.

Drawing from his SCID’s EngineeringXpress initiative, through which more than 12,000 NYSC Corps Members have been reached with training and sensitisation on safety, innovation, entrepreneurship and employability, Onyia emphasised the importance of developing a future-ready workforce capable of transforming technological investment into measurable industrial productivity.

He announced SCID's ambition to build a platform capable of training over 400,000 NYSC Corp members annually and Nigerian young professionals on industry readiness.

He called for manufacturers to be on Faculty Advisory Boards to influence engineering education in Nigeria, encouraging MAN members to welcome and host more students industrial work experience programmes, fund more research projects that aligns with their goal.

He expressed optimism in the industrial workforce and hopes that in three years time when the panel is reconvened, he wants to see a national skills and competences register, stronger industry-academia linkages and significant influence from manufacturers on engineering education in Nigeria.

The session attracted MAN’s leadership and representatives of Nigerian manufacturers with conversations centered on the importance of smart and additive manufacturing and how Nigerian manufacturers can lead this technological transformation in their factories across the African continent through capacity building, and not just importation of these technologies.