Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has called on the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to establish Agriculture Machinery and Equipment Development Institute in Plateau State.
Lalong said the need to have the institute in Plateau is not only for promotion of technological development of the state and northern region but to also maximise huge agricultural potentials of the state.
The governor said his administration is fully ready for such collaboration with NASENI.
Gov Lalong gave this indication when he received the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna who led the top management of the organisation on a courtesy visit to Government House, Little Rayfield Jos.
He said the State was even willing to host more of such agencies like the Hydro Equipment and Machinery Institute, because Plateau has the largest potential for hydro power in Nigeria on account of its topography which gives rise to being the source of most rivers in Northern Nigeria.
Lalong said since coming into office, his vision has been to move Plateau State to a higher level of productivity and human capital development, hence the development of a Strategic Plan which is a comprehensive Road map that guides the Government’s policies, programmes and project implementation over the period 2019-2023.
He said “Plateau State is one of Nigeria’s most endowed states in terms of favourable climate, huge deposits of high value minerals and a wide range of unique agricultural products. This is in addition to being home to some of the most imaginative and inventive minds in Nigeria.
“Our Technical School in Bukuru and the Relevant Technology Center in Jos have over the years produced some of the most creative technicians and engineers that have gone on to support Plateau State and the Nigerian economy in various forms.
“We are today building 2 more Technical Schools in Shendam and Pankshin to further deepen skill development in our State. The days of paper qualification are over.”
Governor Lalong said Plateau State presents a significant opportunity that can assist NASENI to fulfill its mandate and the State is willing, ready and prepared to collaborate with the Agency to ensure that some of the intervention Agencies related to its strategic vision are established in the State.
This he said will go a long way in harnessing the rich of the State through value addition.
Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI Prof. Mohammed Haruna said he was delighted to be back to Plateau State where he started his journey in life and had his early education attending Craft School Laranto, Technical School Bukuru and the Plateau State Polytechnic before moving on to work for NASCO for many years.
He alluded to the fact that Plateau State has huge potentials in human capital development that need encouragement and exposure, to which his agency has pledged support.
He explained that NASENI has achieved breakthroughs in many aspects of technology and is solving problems in energy, transport, agriculture, mining, aviation, health, electoral system and many others.
He canvassed for the support of the Plateau State Governor as well as his colleagues in the Northern Governors Forum so that the region can use technology to tackle some of its economic, security and infrsatructure.