Aregbesola Sends 31 Graduates To Germany For Training In Mechatronics
The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday inaugurated the Bola Ige Mechatronic Institute by sending forth for training in Germany 31 graduates to learn the art of new automobile maintenance technology.
Named after the late attorney general and minister for justice, Chief Ajibola Ige and located at Esa Oke, the institute will deal with the latest technology involved in maintaining modern vehicles.
Speaking at the send-forth ceremony at the Government House Banquet Hall, Aregbesola said that the Mechatronic Institute is another subtle way to improve the economy of the State of Osun and that of the country.
The governor stressed that the institute, when completed, will be the first in Nigeria, saying: “Osun is the first of all states and federal institutions to establish this world-class automotive skill gap bridge in Nigeria meant for promoting skills needed for employability of our graduates, technicians and improvement of artisans in the sector.
“The German world-renowned auto didactic equipment manufacturers, Messrs LUCAS NULLE, Kerpen, Germany was awarded the equipment supply contract with the letter of credit opened by the First Bank Plc through BOI.
“To build this institute, we got N1billion soft loan from Bank of Industry; we commend Automotive Council and the First Bank for helping us to access it.”
Before you come back from Germany, your centre will be ready, please learn very well because you will come back to train our local mechanics”. The governor said.
Aregbesola emphasised that the exercise is purely a practical delivery project as trainees shall be tested and certified before graduation from the centre.
“The capacity to maintain the automobile that we have in Nigeria is so low, our auto engineers, technicians and mechanics are getting out of job because of technological changes as the era of trial-and-error to fix auto maintenance is gone; everything is knowledge-based and Osun is, ready to empower not only the indigenes but all Nigerians willing to seek knowledge at the BIMI, Esa-Oke.
On why the institute was named after chief Bola Ige, aregbesola noted it was so because Ige represented the best that technology, a man who never get tired of seeking knowledge.
Speaking at the event, the former governor of old Western Region, General Adeyinka Adebayo ?pointed out that Chief Bola Ige was a practical man who worked for the growth of Yorubaland and Nigeria as a country.
General Adebayo commended Aregbesola for the positive change he has brought to Osun, adding that Aregbesola is practical as Bola ige was.
In Adebayo’s Words, “you are a practical man like Bola Ige, I can not forget Ige until I die, because he worked for Yorubaland and Nigeria. I am happy for being here, Bola Ige was my commissioner for one year 8 months, Ige was a workaholic, instead of me making him the Attorney general, I made him my commissioner for Agriculture.
“Bola Ige was the foundation that the Southwestern states of the federation is enjoying in Agriculture”, Adebayo stressed.