The Cross River State Government is partnering with a United Kingdom (UK) based firm, Schools Company, to set up a construction and fabrication academy.
The planned Royal Academy for Construction and Fabrication will be the first of its kind in Africa to focus mainly on hi-tech and heavy industrial fabrications and construction.
Speaking after sealing the deal with the UK firm in Calabar, Governor Ben Ayade said: “The Royal Academy will be the first of its kind in Africa that will focus mainly on hi-tech and heavy industrial fabrications and constructions.”
He added that apart from the academy, the state would set up a British-Canadian International School in Obudu and a teachers’ training Institute to be sited in Obubra to complement the upcoming schools.
“This is the greatest thing that Cross Riverians have been waiting for because it is going to develop a new set of workforce that is skillful and intellectually equipped for the 21st century construction and fabrication,” Ayade hinted.
He added: “By setting up this great institution, Cross River State is preparing a background that will create a new story and a new narrative for the new Africa that all will be proud of,” assuring that, “in the next few years, the state shall be the leading light in construction.”
Leader of the team and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Schools Company UK, Mr. Elias Achilleos, said the concept and design of the proposed schools are fashioned after the United Kingdom’s schools standard bearing in mind the climatic condition of Nigeria and promised to put up the best training facilities in the state.
“This is a great project to the people of Nigeria and Calabar in particular and I sue for support from all the stakeholders for the successful implementation of these projects that will turn out the very best in construction and fabrication works for this country.
“Our goal is to see this facility up running with the best equipment and best trainers that build the few trades’ men for Nigeria in the next 18 months.”