A N1.5 billion institute of vocation and advanced technology has been launched in Lokoja on Tuesday. The institute which is called the Nigeria-Korea Institute of Vocational and Advanced Technology was built by the Republic of Korea in collaboration with the government of Kogi State.
The institute, according to Mr. Noh Kyu-Duk, the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria who spoke during the inauguration ceremony, manifests the existing true rapport and collaboration between Nigeria and Korea.
According to him, the building of the institute was made possible by the bilateral agreement between Kogi State government and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The two partners according to him participated sincerely and this made the completion of the project possible.
Mr. Kyu-Duk mentioned in his speech that the vocational education was a veritable means of solving the problem of social vices, unemployment and poverty.
The Korean Ambassador was optimistic that the institute would help to better the growth of Nigeria economy. Explaining how the institute would positively affect the economy of the country, he said that if the youths were au courant with the latest technologies and skills, their jobs would be secured, income would generated and there would be a great reduction in poverty.
The Ambassador urged the government to utilize the facility in producing top quality human resource for the country’s socio-economic development.
KOICA according to him contributed not just fund for the building of the institute but also five rice millers and five diagnostic equipment for AIDS/HIV. Among the contribution of KOICA in the state was the construction of 16 blocks of classroom. He highlights the willingness of the organization to do more.
Mr. Jung Sang Hoon, the Director of KOICA who also spoke during the inauguration ceremony mentioned that the institute has been equipped fully with modern technology and high quality equipment to offer quality technical and vocational training to the students in automobile engineering, electric technology, welding and fabrication and information technology.
Mr. Sang-Hoon pledge the continual support of KOICA towards the sustainability of the project to ensure that the people of the state and entire country is served by the institute.
He expressed his wish to seeing unemployment and poverty eliminated in the country and also to seeing the dream of youths realized, generation of more jobs and income and the more acknowledgement of the value of technical and vocational education.
The governor of Kogi State mentioned that the state contributed N410 million ($2.6M) for the execution of the project. Mr Governor, Idris Wada said that the aim of the project was to end unemployment and restiveness among the youth and to generate money for the state.
Mr. Governor promised the production of excellent technicians that would meet the country’s manpower need in the institution. He expressed his gratitude to KOICA for training some of the people that will work as staffs in the institute in their country.
He urged the institute’s management and workers to make good use of the facilities in the institute and to manage it properly. He said that the state government would not tolerate incompetence or any corrupt practices that will hinder the effective operation of the institute.
