The Permanent Secretary of Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr Olufunsho Olusesan Adebiyi, has announced plans for the construction of a rail line linking Abuja with Zaria. He made the announcement at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) in Zaria on 12 September 2026.
Declaring the ceremony open, Adebiyi said he was himself a product of NITT, and that the training he received at the institute in 1995, alongside other professional programmes he undertook, had contributed significantly to his career development and current position.
He commended NITT for its sustained contribution to the development of skilled manpower for Nigeria's transport sector through professional training, capacity building and research.
The Permanent Secretary also praised the Director General and Chief Executive of NITT, Dr Bayero Salih Farah, for what he described as visionary leadership, describing him as extremely respectful, committed, diligent, dedicated, hardworking and honest, and as a leader with a shepherd's heart.
Addressing the graduands, Adebiyi urged them to take responsibility for their future and to take advantage of the opportunities emerging from what he described as the Federal Government's massive investment in transport infrastructure.
He said rail services would soon connect Abuja with Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, Daura and Katsina, creating new employment opportunities for skilled Nigerians.
Adebiyi told the graduands that from January 2027 they would be able to board a train from Abuja to Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, Daura and Katsina, and urged them to position themselves to take advantage of the opportunities he said the expanding rail network would create.
The Permanent Secretary offered automatic employment to the two overall best graduating students, and announced scholarships for them to pursue degree programmes.
He also appealed to members of the National Assembly to emulate the scholarship initiative of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas, as a means of empowering Nigerian youths and helping to address crime and insecurity.
In his welcome address, Farah thanked the Permanent Secretary, the Emir of Zazzau, Amb Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, and other guests for honouring the institute's invitation. He thanked the Speaker of the House of Representatives for sponsoring more than 200 students through his scholarship programme.
Farah said the maiden convocation was the culmination of NITT's expansion in 2021 into programmes accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), leading to the award of the National Innovation Diploma (NID), National Skills Qualification (NSQ), National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND).
He restated the institute's commitment to professionalising Nigeria's transport and logistics industry, and said NITT contributes to the country's transport and logistics development through education, professional training, research, consultancy and technical innovation.
Farah said the institute's programmes combine theory with practical application and expose students to current industry developments, and that NITT would continue to review and update its curriculum in line with emerging industry needs. He congratulated the graduands and urged them to be good ambassadors of the institute.
Speaking through the Director of the National Water Resources Institute, Dr Abduljalal Danbaba, the Speaker of the House of Representatives congratulated the graduands, particularly beneficiaries of his scholarship programme, and urged them to put their skills and knowledge to productive use.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of prizes to academically outstanding students. Goodwill messages were received from guests and partners including Alh Abbas Ahmed Fatika, who represented the Emir of Zazzau, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Administration at Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Bello Sabo, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, and the Director of Transport Planning and Coordination, Dr Jane Ojinta.
More than 200 students were awarded certificates and diplomas in transport and logistics related programmes, and National Vocational Certificate (NVC) graduands received starter kits in addition to their certificates.
