The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has graduated 31 newly trained locomotive pilots, with the Corporation’s Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, describing the new cadre as central to the ongoing transformation and expansion of railway operations across the country.
Opeifa, who spoke at the graduation ceremony, said the successful completion of the intensive training programme underscored the NRC’s commitment to building a professional workforce capable of supporting safe, efficient and reliable railway services.
Represented by the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Dr. Monsurat Omotayo, the NRC Managing Director said locomotive pilots would play a critical role as the Corporation expands its operations and implements new initiatives aimed at repositioning the railway sector.
He said the administration was particularly focused on initiatives such as partnerships with state governments on rail development, which would enable more states to provide affordable and reliable rail transportation for their residents.
“Also close to the heart of this management are the Track Access Policy and the freight revolution. As locomotive pilots, you will be at the centre of these initiatives and the future of railway transportation in Nigeria”, Opeifa stated.
He assured the newly graduated pilots, including two women, that the Corporation would continue to invest in their professional development through exposure to global best practices.
According to him, continuous capacity building would strengthen safety, operational efficiency and reliability across the railway system.
45 Staff Began Training
Earlier, the Assistant Director, Motive Power, Mr. Abiodun Olokun, disclosed that 45 staff members drawn from various operational departments of the NRC were initially shortlisted for the locomotive pilot training.
He said the programme was conducted at the NRC Training Schools in Lagos and Zaria, Kaduna State, combining intensive classroom instruction with practical and simulator-based training.
Olokun commended the Managing Director for ensuring the successful completion of the programme, adding that 31 trainees had met the requirements for graduation.
He explained that 11 others had been directed to undergo further practical training to improve their competence, while two trainees failed to meet the required performance standard.
One other trainee could not complete the programme after being involved in a road accident. The three trainees were subsequently returned to their respective departments.
According to Olokun, the trainees were taught by experienced instructors and exposed to simulator training at the Zaria Training Institute.
“We had three months of intensive classroom instruction followed by six months of practical training covering all operational departments. The programme was designed to expose the trainees not only to the locomotives but also to the operational environment in which they will work”, he said.
Graduates Capable of Global Standards
The Chief Locomotive Instructor, Mr. Godwin Edet, described the graduating pilots as outstanding in both theoretical knowledge and practical competence.
Edet said their training had equipped them with the skills required to operate locomotives professionally and compete with locomotive operators anywhere in the world.
“We are proud of these graduates and can confidently attest to their competence, discipline and professionalism. They will undoubtedly be good ambassadors of the Nigerian Railway Corporation”, he said.
The Technical Adviser to the Managing Director on Railway Operations and Services, Mr. Adeife Olukolade, congratulated the graduates on completing the programme and urged them to remain guided by the operational rule book presented to them.
He stressed that although operational incidents could occur, strict adherence to established safety procedures remained the most effective way of preventing accidents.
Similarly, the Director of Operations, Mr. Akin Osinowo, urged the new pilots to remain disciplined, committed and safety-conscious.
Osinowo reminded them that their responsibilities extended beyond driving locomotives, as they would be entrusted with the safety of hundreds of passengers as well as the movement of freight, which is receiving increased attention under the present administration.
Call for Younger Engineering Workforce
The Director of Civil Engineering and New Lines, Engr. Adekunle Ayeni, described the graduation as a symbol of renewed hope for the NRC.
He, however, called for similar investment in the Corporation’s Civil Engineering Department through the recruitment and training of younger engineers to address the ageing workforce and impending retirements.
In his goodwill message, the Deputy Director, Mechanical, Electrical, Signals and Telecommunications, Engr. Habeeb Olakunle Alaka, commended the dedication of the instructors and trainees throughout the programme.
He noted that the graduates’ existing technical backgrounds within the Corporation would enable them to contribute beyond locomotive driving.
Alaka urged them to maintain close collaboration with engineers in their respective divisions and provide regular operational feedback that could help improve efficiency and equipment performance.
‘We Will Justify Management’s Confidence’
Speaking on behalf of the graduating class, the Class Governor, Amina Oden, expressed appreciation to Opeifa and the NRC management for investing in their training and restoring pride to the locomotive operations cadre.
She assured management that the graduates would justify the confidence reposed in them through professionalism, discipline and dedication to duty.
The ceremony ended with the presentation of souvenirs to the NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, and the Director of Operations, Mr. Akin Osinowo, by the graduating locomotive pilots.