NBTE, White Cloud Sign MoU To Bridge Skills Gap In Welding Technology

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and White Cloud have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bridge the skills gap in welding technology in Nigeria.

The MoU was signed in Abuja yesterday to address the country’s shortage of skilled welders.

Speaking during the brief programme, the executive secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje, said welding is a critical area of technical education, and Nigerian polytechnics and technical colleges could play a pivotal role in training young people to bridge this skills gap.

He said the initiative could potentially position Nigeria to export welders and welding technicians globally.

According to him, White Cloud has introduced a new technology-Soldamatic Augmented Welding Reality Training Technology that promises to reduce the cost of training, lower the expense of consumables, and ensure students receive proper hands-on training, ultimately building their skills and confidence in welding.

“After conducting a thorough analysis and engaging with White Cloud and its foreign partners, the NBTE has identified Soldamatic as a valuable alternative for Nigerian polytechnics. With this MoU, the system is set to be introduced across more than 100 polytechnics nationwide. The hope is that technical colleges will also benefit from this technology.

“The new administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has recognised Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a priority, with the newly appointed Minister of Education, Dr. Alausa, placing a strong emphasis on its importance.

“He is working to secure funding through NELFund to support TVET in technical colleges. Additionally, he has rebranded the educational system, transforming the traditional senior secondary school levels into TVET 1, TVET 2, and TVET 3, signalling a major shift towards technical skills development.

“The rebranding reflects a broader vision to address the skills gap, focusing on providing more qualified students to feed into polytechnics. The federal government has also agreed to convert all science and technical colleges into purely technical institutions, a paradigm shift that will benefit future generations,” he said.

He further said the integration of augmented welding technology into the curriculum at technical colleges is essential for “catching them young.” By the time students transition to polytechnics, they will already have a solid foundation in welding.

On his part, the managing director of White Cloud, Oluranti Jasper Netufo, said welding is a critical sector, and the shortage of skilled welders is a crucial challenge.

He said the partnership seeks to address that issue by enhancing Nigeria’s capacity to produce high-quality welders, which is vital for driving economic development.

According to him, the skills gap exists due to several factors, including a lack of specialised welding skills, insufficient expertise in welding inspection and testing, inadequate training facilities, and a shortage of certified welding instructors.

Through this partnership, they will supply and install Soldamatic augmented welding training equipment in selected TVET institutions, provide training for trainers, and collaborate with NBTE to integrate this system into existing curricula.