FMST, Welding Institute partner on capacity building for industrial sector
As 
part of effort to grow the economy and ensure that small and medium scale industrialists contribute to national development, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology is to collaborate with the Nigerian Institute of Welding to enhance the capacity of Nigerians in the sector.
The Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu who pledged of the Federal Government to the Institute when its President Dr. Solomon Edeberi visited the ministry in Abuja.
A statement by the Deputy Director Press in the Ministry, Taye Akinyemi, said Dr. noted that “the time has come for us to pay sufficient attention to welding technology because it is very important to the manufacturing sector”.
The Minister stressed that through this, the Nigeria will be able to produce machines and equipment needed in the country.
He assured NIW government willingness to support for any course that will encourage Nigerian to look inward to improve economy.
Earlier, Dr Edeberi informed the minister that the institute was seeking to partner with the Ministry in the area of research into agro equipment, fabrications, electrodes and waste management.
According to him, “With mechanized production we must be able to produce rice locally, we must be able to process cassava and grains locally which can only be achieved through welding engineering”.
He noted that they are also working on how to get alternative power supply like the mobile power system and also regulate the practice of welding profession in Nigeria to ensure standard and certification.
He disclosed that Shell Petroleum has equipped a laboratory worth $2 billion dollars for the institute, localize the production of electrode and other research activities but requested the ministry to partner with the institute.
He added that the Nigerian Institute of Welding is working with the Standard Organization of Nigeria to close the gap of certified welding personnel against the uncertified welding personnel.