NSIB renews MoU with UNILAG on deployment of Metallurgical Sci Lab

By Dickson Omobola

Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB, has renewed its Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the University of Lagos, UNILAG, on deployment of the metallurgical science laboratory at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja.

The MoU, initially signed in July 2018, was renewed by its Director-General, Capt Alex Badeh Jr, and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Folasade Ogunsola.

Speaking during the MoU signing ceremony at the Unilag Senate Building, Badeh said the NSIB would fast-track the relocation of some of the equipment in the laboratory for the institution’s use.

He said: “Well, the initial MoU was signed in 2018, but between then and now, there have been subsequent meetings between UNILAG and the NSIB, without any real follow up for reasons that could be logistics or politics. When I took over, I met the MoU there needing a renewal, and I saw the lack of movement with the last MOU, so we discussed it internally. We need University of Lagos expertise and other academic institutions in Nigeria to work with the NSIB. We have some equipment that we can’t use at present. We just thought collaboration is the way to go.  With capable hands at universities all across, there is no reason why these things are sitting there.  So we went back to the University of Lagos, which we’re starting with.

“You know, we have taken positive steps after this initial meeting. In two weeks, we will have some professors from the department in Abuja as well, come and consult again just to update their past diagnosis, which was four or five years ago. Science is constantly evolving, and things that were attainable then aren’t now. We know there are some changes and there will be new equipment we need.

“This is the first step in that direction. Once they visit and give us their needs and we exchange our ideas, we’ll take it forward to our superiors and try to move forward with this collaboration. We know the university needs funding. As an agency, we need funding, so we’ll try to collaborate and get that funding to move us in a positive direction.”

Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Ogunsola, in her remarks, said the equipment would help the university in carrying out its mandate of teaching and research.

She said: “We are intentional to make sure our research is demand-driven. We want to move Nigeria forward as a university and we want you to challenge us to come up with solutions.

“Collaboration is extremely important in shaping the future. The collaboration will not only be beneficial to us as a university but to you (NSIB) as well and propel the manpower Nigeria needs to support the future. We have the capacity but we need support to leverage on the capacity.”

On his part, Dean of Faculty of Engineering, UNILAG, Prof Samson Adeosun, urged the NSIB leadership to fast-track the movement of the equipment.

He said the university was anticipating that the equipment would be relocated immediately after the initial agreement.

He said: “There are a lot of skills that can be deployed into that collaboration once we move the equipment. The aviation industry will benefit. The nation will benefit and it will increase the rating of the laboratory.”

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