The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with five tertiary institutions across Nigeria to bolster local expertise in railway technology and training.

The collaboration includes Yaba College of Technology (Lagos), Kwara State Polytechnic (Ilorin), Federal Polytechnic Offa (Kwara State), Kaduna Polytechnic (Kaduna), and Trinity University (Lagos).

At the MoU signing ceremony on Monday, 30 June 2025, NRC Managing Director/CEO Dr Kayode Opeifa described the initiative as a strategic step towards promoting skill development, knowledge sharing, and career opportunities in the railway sector.

He stated, "This MoU establishes a collaborative framework that encourages partnership, facilitates technology transfer, and enhances capacity building for both the institutions and the NRC."

He added that the agreement is expected to deliver long-term benefits by improving access to education and professional development for NRC staff.

"This partnership will help eliminate promotion stagnation by providing staff with opportunities to pursue diplomas and degrees, especially in specialised areas such as railway technology, administration, and management," he said.

Dr Opeifa noted that the collaboration would optimise the application of railway-specific skills, including digital technology, locomotive and track engineering, rail logistics, and operations management, many of which are scarce in other industries.

Addressing questions on the impact of the MoU on foreign training, Opeifa clarified that while it won't eliminate the need for overseas education, it will significantly reduce dependence on it.

He explained, "The MoU is a win-win for the country. Our retired staff can serve as lecturers or resource persons in these institutions, while their students and faculty can gain practical experience using our facilities. It's about maximising local potential.

"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."

The Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Dr Kadir Oluwatoyin, praised the NRC's initiative as a significant step toward achieving the goals of President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.

"This collaboration will offer our students practical learning opportunities and internships while enabling our staff to participate in sabbaticals with the NRC," he said. "We recently had to send staff abroad for training, but this partnership will help build local capacity and reduce such needs."

Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic, Dr Abdul Mohammed, also expressed support for the initiative, noting that it will help train a new generation of professionals in railway engineering and reduce the sector's reliance on expatriates.

"The MoU will generate skilled manpower for the railway industry and create employment opportunities for Nigeria's youth, both locally and internationally," he concluded.