The partnership is expected to create 1, 000 jobs for ex-Niger Delta militants undergoing training in welding and ancillary services at Bradama facilities located in Agadagba-Obon in Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Bradama has trained highly-skilled welders under the Federal Government-sponsored training programmes for ex-militants as part of the Amnesty Programme.
According to the promoters, the trainees will be deployed in the construction of heavy duty equipment and ship components after they have acquired prerequisite international training that will be provided by the centre.
General Manager, Samsung Heavy Industries, Frank Ejizu, said that Bradama was recommended by experts and professionals in the welding construction industry, because of its marked achievements within in a short period of operation.
He said: “We have been looking for a reputable company that specialises in welding and fabrication and we were directed to Bradama by experts, because we intend to train people on fabrication and ship building.
“We are here to look at the facility and we will soon make another more detailed visit to audit the facilities with a view to partnering with them and upgrade the centre so that the training and certification will be of international standards.”
He said that Samsung Heavy Industries will bring in experts from Korea to train the ex-militants so that they could have the prerequisite expertise and experience to enable them work anywhere in the world.
“It is not our intention to take over the centre, but we will partner with the centre to churn out highly skilled welders who will be able to stand tall among their colleagues in the world. We are a company that believes that Nigerians with the relevant qualification should be able to compete in the industry anywhere.
“The gain is that the trainees, apart from been well trained, will ultimately stand the chance of being employed in our ship building projects while others with the upgrade modern knowledge in welding should be able to work for reputable companies all over the world,” he said.
Founder of the skills centre, Chief Bibopere Ajube, while welcoming the Samsung Heavy Industries team to the centre, said that he is glad that the centre has been so honoured by a reputable company like Samsung Heavy Industries and that the achievements of Bradama over the last three years have placed it as a reputable training centre not only in Nigeria but in Africa.
“We are pleased to have the Samsung Heavy Industries’ team at the centre and we are optimistic that the arrangement will materialise and I will be happy to see our trained graduates working for established companies like Samsung in the nearest future,” Ajube said.
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