Lagos State Government has stated its commitment to collaborate with the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, (USA) on the implementation of the Manufacturing Assistance Centre, to boost the socio-economic and infrastructural development in the State through the building of manufacturing​ ​ capacity in the State.
The Governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat while receiving the Chairman, University of Pittsburgh Department of Industrial Engineering, Pennsylvania on a courtesy visit to Deputy Governor’s office, gave the assurance today.
While expressing his delight on the proposed exercise, he said that the state government is willing to learn from what had been done in Pittsburgh in terms of enhancing manufacturing in the community and getting people together.
Sanwo-Olu stated that Lagos is ready for the partnership with the department, noting that such partnership would be achieved through capacity building for manufacturing concern and is very happy with the collaboration..
His words “In Lagos we take things seriously. If the government was not interested we would not do it. But we have shown interest. We will make sure it happens and we have the people that will push it, because this is how we can plant the tree of development and then pass it down to the students”. He said, adding that there will more and bigger of Assistance Centres, to enhance the community.
Similarly, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Technology, Mr. Olatunbosun Alake noted that the MAC project is implemented in the Lagos State University and is in partnership with the University of Pittsburg to drive manufacturing skill capacity in the state through the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.
He disclosed that the Manufacturing Assistance Centre will have equipment for the students to learn manufacturing skills and boost manufacturing capacity in the State. This he said to be “the bedrock of any economy is manufacturing”.
The Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello was also of the view that the collaboration of LASU with a more experienced University which focuses on manufacturing will be of immense benefit to the people.
She added that the collaboration will help turn unskilled people to skilled personnel, and it will give them opportunities to develop their industries through the Assistance Centre.
She also noted that the centre will help the people of Epe and the Eastern Senatorial Zone of the State in this developmental drive, as the centre will be located in the Epe Campus of the University and will propel the emergence of more industries in the community, while more employment opportunities will be created.​
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Industrial Engineering, Pennsylvania (USA) and Immediate Past President of Industrial Engineers, Prof. Bopaya Bidinda commended the vision of the government on transformative change in the state and in the education system saying “this collaboration is about reaching out to the community and for better living”.
Prof. Bopaya Bidinda, noted that Industrial Engineering Techniques makes processed faster and better, it adds values to a process by making a it work more efficiently and has been embraced in the developed countries. He added that the United Nation economics significantly benefits using the Industrial Engineering Techniques.
He therefore urged for the support of government not just on material support ​ but also on policies to drive the initiative. He also added that the Industrial Engineering Strategy be out in place in addition to the Manufacturing Assistance Centre.​
