TWF 2nd Annual Assembly and Conference
Question: Congratulations! TWF 2nd Annual Assembly and Conference (hybrid) has successfully drawn experts and officials from different countries to engage in both technical discussions, policy reviews and physical welding activities. From Nigeria to South Africa, Ethiopia to Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Liberia, Morocco, Mozambique, Gambia, Tunisia and other non-Africa countries like Dubai, Spain, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland etc. This event has also attracted some other leading equipment manufacturers globally. This is a very huge success that pictures the united African economy being crusaded by African union. You have been identified as the convener. Can we meet you and know a little more about TWF?
Response: My name is Ayo Adeniyi, Executive Director of The Welding Federation (www.weldfa.org). TWF is a pan Africa body focused on domiciling and domesticating solutions to welding and material manufacturing in Africa. TWF is incorporated in South Africa with membership spread across Africa and a support administrative management office in Nigerian. Thanks to PETAN in support of the African content in welding and materials manufacturing campaign, TWF administrative office is located in PETAN building
The success that you have used in describing this conference rests on the commitments and consistency of members of the conference committee in the last six months. Ayo is a single individual. A single tree does not make a forest. The Conference Management Committee Led by Dr Timi Austen Peters of Dormanlong Engineering, Prof MOH Amuda, Prof David Esezobor, Dr Lawrence Osoba and Dr Wasiu Ayoola all of University of Lagos, Oye Babaropulous of Nigerian Foundries Ltd, Harrison Uyo of Homik Engineering, Engr Grace Erhimona of Petroleum Training Institute and etc.
I had to deliberately list these individuals, because their contributions and collective efforts were the instrument to achieving the success.
Question: What’s the aim of the conference and what are expected deliverables?
Response: Perhaps your intended question is what has been the impact of the 1st and now 2nd assembly? Simple answer is that since the advent of TWF activities, appetite for African solutions is growing exponentially, and solutions also being developed to address real industry concerns.
TWF has fully created an integrated personnel certification scheme. A critical review of the content does show the gaps it has addressed in the industry. This conference is drawing attention on the need for Africa’s industries to deepen capacity by implementing the skill map proposal by TWF and also prioritize TWF personnel qualification as the primary basis, the front-line unifier for projects across Africa
In this conference, welders from members states across Africa have also been engaged in a healthy atmosphere of sharing, building of friendships and learning one or two new tricks from each other. This is one the goal of the competition.
In addition, TWF Annual Assembly and Conference 2024 aims amongst other things to improve on efforts towards fixing the frictions limiting the advancement of material manufacturing in Africa by sharing technical experiences from simple to complex product executions, as well as research findings.
At TWF Assemblies, solutions and recommendations are proposed on ways and means to address fault lines and advance national capacities from participation to management of national manufacturing industries in Africa.
Finally, this conference being hosted in Nigerian hopes to polish and highlight the unique depths which Nigeria’s collection of professionals and manufactures have to offer as a complement to the integrated manufacturing industry
Question: How many editions in the past?
Response: Equally as important as the knowledge of impact thus far, is also understanding the story and history of TWF. The Federation started with virtual sessions. This was then followed by the 1st regional symposium in Uganda in the year 2022. The momentum has remained steady since then with the 1st assembly in Cairo, followed by 2nd assembly in Lagos Nigeria. The 3rd assembly is already scheduled to hold in Addis Ababa in the year 2025.
Question: What support and what has been the role of government in advancing and repositioning the welding industry as being championed by TWF?
Response: There might be no straight forward response to this question. However, the plain answer is yes. The presence of The Federal Ministries of Steel Development and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment were represented at the highest level, Council of regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, Nigerian Navy, Standards Organization of Nigeria, Nigerian Society of Engineers and what have you does reflect support. Certainly, a deeper level of support is required but yes attention is support.
The role of government in repositioning industry for sustained progress starts with recognition and fellowshipping with the industry oriented and driven solutions. Solutions initiated and driven by the industry that understands, prioritize industry concerns and complement government interests
Thriving industries anywhere and everywhere in the world are products of constructive analysis, competitive environmental stimulation that drive innovations to sustain value creation and value capturing. The role of government to support sustainable growth of the industry is therefore to identify, nurse and sustain innovations that addresses there identified concerns.
Question: What significant role can cooperation among stakeholders play in this repositioning?
Response: This question depends on what or who constitutes the web of stakeholders. From consumers, to service providers to assertions to regulatory bodies. The roles of components of the stakeholder web differ and command influence both negative and positive depending on how applied.
The roles of stakeholders cannot be overemphasized in repositioning of industries. More importantly is in the sustainability factor associated with such industry. This success of this 2nd annual assembly is an attestation to possibilities achievable when and where there are alignments of interest by stakeholders.
A common phenomenon in African countries is the misrepresentation of who and roles of stakeholders. Roles when misrepresented via petty application of legislative gavel, kill rather than give life to societal progress. Therefore, as TWF advances macro and micro level solutions to deepen capacity in Africa’s welding industries, we call first on our regulatory bodies to see themselves first as stakeholders with the primary responsibility to engineer an atmosphere of competitive innovations with validated value content and value capture potentials.
This conference held in collaboration with PETAN and OGTAN is evidence to the power of cooperation. Collaborations I can therefore amongst other stakeholders in active but can certainly become better. The donation of an administrative office to TWF by PETAN to manage the growing activities of TWF across Africa to sustain momentum in delivery of contents to the industry; This exemplifies the roles that stakeholders can or should play in driving growth of the industry.
I urge deeper collaboration with the services consumers.
