Kogi to establish Solid Minerals Technology Development Fund
[contextly_auto_sidebar id=”TE5C1EMnUx7qWPjeYqbWrg8uPjBjtoxM”]
An urgent consideration for the establishment of Solid Minerals Technology Development Fund has been made by the Kogi State Government.
Capt. Idris Wada made this at the opening of a two – day retreat for the Management staff of Petroleum Training Development Fund (PTDF), held in Lokoja.
The State Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, said it will serve as a strategic value as the nation consciously explores the options of diversifying its economy.
The Governor said Kogi State is richly endowed in Solid Minerals, called for necessary assistance to help in developing the appropriate indigenous manpower.
This the Governor noted will avoid the experience currently witnessed in the oil sector where technical expertise reside mainly in foreign Nationals, a gap that is now being bridged by the PTDF.
The Governor commended the PTDF for its intervention role in bridging the gap between resource ownership and management in the petroleum sector, aimed at deeping political and economic independence.
In his welcome remarks, Dr. Oluwole Oluleye, the Executive Secretary of Petroleum Training Development Fund (PTDF), said in its thirteen years of existence, the fund has recorded remarkable achievements in human and institutional capacity building, as well as in domesticating the sourcing of relevant inputs and technologies for the petroleum industry.
The Executive Secretary stated that 73 indigenes of Kogi State have been awarded overseas scholarships for Masters Degree and 21 for Phd.
He said the agency has also intervened in developing ICT centers in most of the tertiary institutions and colleges in the State.
