Transport institute lauds China support to transform into a university
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July 5, 2021
05
Jul 2021
The Guardian Reporter
Dar es Salaam
Business
The Guardian
Transport institute lauds China support to transform into a university
PLANS to transform National Institute of Transport into a university backed by Chinese grant of US62 million for a few African institutions of higher learning are at advanced stage.
NIT rector, Professor Zacharia Mganilwa addressing journalists in Dar es Salaam last week. Photo: Guardian Correspondent.
NIT Rector Professor Zacharia Mganilwa said in Dar es Salaam last week that Tanzania is among beneficiaries of the Chinese governments’ five mega transport universities project to improve logistics for trade and investment for better partnership with the continent.
“We thank the Chinese government for their support in upgrading our institute into a transport university. We are now waiting for them to sign a contract as that the project can move to the next stage of implementation," Prof Mganilwa said.
He added that a new NIT University of Transport will come to life soon thereafter as China which also financed the construction of TAZARA railway line backs training of highly skilled manpower to manage transport and logistics in the country.
The NIT chief further noted that the transport university will incorporate College of Railway and Road Engineering Technology, College of Aerospace Science and Technology and College of Transport and Allied Sciences.
"The Chinese' Southwest Jiaotong University did the feasibility study for the upgrading of NIT into a transport and design of the campus,” he underlined saying it will serve countries in East and Central Africa.
Prof Mganilwa pointed out that under the deal, the university will also receive modern high-tech teaching machines and equipment to cater for the needs for rapidly changing and logistics industry with disciplines in aviation, railway, maritime and road network.
Tanzania which through Dar es Salaam Port serves several landlocked countries needs highly qualified personnel to manage it transport and logistics industry. Beneficiaries of the Chinese back plan also include Kenya, Uganda, DR Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Malawi and Zambia.
The deal will also involve expansion of Lindi Campus for Maritime Studies and Petroleum Technology; KIA Campus for Aviation training while 800 acres of land in Dodoma City are earmarked for another transport training facility.
“NIT as a higher learning institution is undertaking deliberate measures to ensure availability and sustainability of experts in the transport and logistics industry,” he added while noting that the experts to be trained will include pipeline engineers, pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, maritime engineers, aerospace engineers, offshore engineers, mechanical engineers, automobile engineers, safety engineers, locomotive and rolling stock engineers and railway signalling and telecommunication engineers.
The decision by China to build five mega transport universities in Africa was revealed at the Johannesburg Summit and the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) which was held in December 2015.