The China Railway Signal and Communication Group has launched an international seminar on Rail Transit Intelligence Control Systems for Nigerian engineers, scholars, and transport practitioners.

This was disclosed in a statement by Umar Usman, the spokesperson for the Federal Transportation University Daura. According to him, the seminar going on in Beijing, China, is a major step toward deepening Nigerian cooperation in modern railway technology.

“The two-week programme, running from November 20 to December 4, brings together representatives from the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the Nigerian Railway Corporation, and the FUTD.

“The seminar stems from a tripartite agreement signed on August 21, during FUTD’s second matriculation ceremony,” Mr Usman said.

He added that the partnership was expected to give birth to a Joint Intelligent Control Research Centre and state-of-the-art intelligent train control laboratories in Daura by 2026.

Welcoming the Nigerian delegation at the CRSC headquarters in Beijing, the CRDC chairman, Zhang Jingfang, described the event as an important milestone in the evolving relationship between China and Nigeria.

“Since our establishment in Beijing in 1953, we have been committed to advancing rail transit intelligent control technology, not just for China, but as a partner in global progress,” Mr Jingfang stated.

He added that CRSC’s technologies now support rail systems in more than 10 countries across four continents, including Nigeria. According to him, during the seminar, participants will tour CRSC facilities, receive factory-based technical training, and also attend specialised courses on railway signalling and low-altitude control systems.

“The participants will also experience Maglev technology and immerse themselves in China’s dynamic urban landscape,” he said.

Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, a Nigerian diplomat at the embassy in Beijing, commended CRSC for its unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s transport development.

Ms Okey-Uche highlighted that the foundations for the partnership were strengthened during Nigeria’s transport minister’s visit to CRSC in May 2024, followed by a reciprocal visit from CRSC’s vice-president to Nigeria in November 2024.

“This programme reflects mutual respect, benefit, and shared growth,” she said, emphasising the crucial role of human capital development in Nigeria’s ongoing rail modernisation.

She noted that the seminar aimed to equip Nigerian professionals with frontier knowledge in intelligent train control systems, build local technical expertise for managing Nigeria’s expanding rail network, and strengthen academic-industry collaboration between CRSC and FUTD.

Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian delegation, FUTD vice-chancellor Umar Adam-Katsayal expressed gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Transportation for providing an enabling environment that allows the university to grow rapidly.

He praised CRSC’s hospitality and affirmed that the training would enhance participants’ skills and knowledge in railway signalling, control, and communication systems, while promoting cultural diplomacy between China and Nigeria.

According to him, with the seminar, both nations are looking ahead to a future where Nigerian engineers play a leading role in Africa’s rail technology transformation, guided by world-class expertise and strengthened bilateral cooperation. 

(NAN)