The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with five tertiary institutions across Nigeria in a move aimed at strengthening local expertise and capacity in railway technology, training, and management.
The partnership includes Yaba College of Technology (Lagos), Kwara State Polytechnic (Ilorin), Federal Polytechnic Offa (Kwara State), Kaduna Polytechnic (Kaduna), and Trinity University (Lagos).
Speaking during the MoU signing ceremony held Monday, NRC Managing Director and CEO, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, described the initiative as a strategic step toward advancing skill acquisition, knowledge transfer, and career development in Nigeria’s rapidly growing railway sector.
“This MoU establishes a collaborative framework that fosters partnership, facilitates technology transfer, and strengthens capacity building across both the institutions and the NRC,” Dr. Opeifa said.
He explained that the agreement is expected to deliver long-term benefits by improving educational access and professional development opportunities for NRC staff, especially in specialized fields such as railway technology, administration, and management.
“This partnership will help eliminate promotion stagnation by providing staff with opportunities to pursue diplomas and degrees,” he added.
Dr. Opeifa also highlighted that the collaboration would enhance training in railway-specific skills like digital technology, locomotive and track engineering, rail logistics, and operations management — areas where skilled professionals remain in short supply across many industries.
While addressing questions on the potential impact on overseas training, Opeifa clarified that the MoU is not intended to replace foreign education entirely but rather to reduce dependence on it.
“The MoU is a win-win for the country. Our retired staff can serve as lecturers or resource persons, and students and faculty from these institutions can gain hands-on experience at our facilities,” he said.
“If knowledge is in China, Chicago, or Abu Dhabi, we should go for it. But with this partnership, we’ll be able to provide more of that knowledge here at home, saving the country money.”
Leaders of the partner institutions hailed the initiative as a transformative move for education and infrastructure in Nigeria.
Dr. Kadir Oluwatoyin, Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Offa, said the collaboration aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and will provide students with internship opportunities and practical learning, while faculty members benefit from sabbatical and exchange programmes with NRC.
“We recently had to send staff abroad for training, but this partnership will help build local capacity and reduce such needs,” he noted.
Dr. Abdul Mohammed, Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic, also applauded the agreement, stressing that it will help train a new generation of professionals in railway engineering and reduce the industry’s reliance on foreign expertise.
“The MoU will generate skilled manpower for the railway industry and create employment opportunities for Nigeria’s youth, both locally and internationally,” he said.
The partnership marks a significant milestone in NRC’s modernization efforts and reflects a broader push to domesticate technical expertise, develop a homegrown workforce, and maximize the potential of Nigeria’s transport sector.
