The China Railway Signal and Communication,CRSC,Group has opened an intensive international seminar on rail transit intelligent control systems for Nigerian engineers, scholars and transport practitioners, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral cooperation in modern railway technology.
The programme, currently underway in Beijing, is part of a broader partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the Nigerian Railway Corporation and the Federal Transportation University, Daura,FUTD.
The two-week training, scheduled from Nov. 20 to Dec. 4, brings together key stakeholders working to advance Nigeria’s railway modernisation agenda.
The seminar is a product of a tripartite agreement signed on Aug. 21 during FUTD’s second matriculation ceremony.
The pact is expected to deliver a Joint Intelligent Control Research Centre and state-of-the-art intelligent train control laboratories at FUTD by 2026—facilities that will boost Nigeria’s capacity to develop and manage cutting-edge rail technology.
At CRSC’s headquarters in Beijing, Chairman Zhang Jingfang welcomed the Nigerian team, describing the event as a major milestone in the expanding China–Nigeria partnership.
He highlighted CRSC’s evolution since its establishment in 1953 and its global footprint, with intelligent control technologies deployed in rail systems across more than 10 countries on four continents, including Nigeria.
Throughout the seminar, participants will tour CRSC’s facilities, undertake factory-based technical sessions, and enrol in specialised courses on railway signalling and low-altitude control systems.
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The programme also features exposure to Maglev technology and guided experiences across Beijing’s rapidly developing urban transport landscape.
Nigeria’s embassy in China also lent its support to the initiative. A diplomat, Mrs Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, applauded CRSC for its consistent investment in Nigeria’s transport development.
She traced the strengthening of the partnership to high-level visits in 2024, including the Nigerian Minister of Transportation’s mission to CRSC in May and a return visit by the company’s Vice President later that year.
She stated that the seminar is designed to equip Nigerian professionals with frontier knowledge in intelligent train control systems, enhance domestic technical expertise for managing the nation’s expanding rail network, and deepen academic-industry collaboration between CRSC and FUTD. She emphasised that human capital development remains central to Nigeria’s rail transformation efforts.
Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian delegation, FUTD Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Umar Adam-Katsayal expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Transportation for fostering an enabling environment for the university’s growth.
He commended CRSC’s hospitality and said the training would sharpen participants’ skills in railway signalling, control and communication systems, while promoting cultural and educational ties between both countries.
He added that the programme reflects a shared vision in which Nigerian engineers will take leading roles in advancing rail technology across Africa, supported by strengthened bilateral cooperation and world-class technical training.
NAN
