Edo State president, Tyre Technicians Association of Nigeria, Comrade Uyi Guobadia, has stated that the number of lives lost through road accidents is more than the killings by Boko Haram.
Comrade Guobadia, who is also the national president of the association, made the observation in Benin City at a training program put together by the Edo State Traffic Control and Management Agency Training Academy to upskill practicing vulcanizers in the state, to make them become tyre technicians.
Declaring the workshop open, the Managing Director of EDSTMA, Engr. Stainless Ijeghede, assured of his office’s commitment to partnering with all stakeholders in the transport sector in order to ensure a safer transport system in the state and the protection of lives.
He urged participants to take full advantage of the training to enhance their skills and contribute positively to the development of society.
The National President of the Tyre Technicians Association of Nigeria, Comrade Uyi Guobadia, had, while observing the high rate of deaths occasioned by road accidents, expressed the belief that with adequate knowledge on the part of tyre technicians, the issue of road accidents would be greatly reduced.
Ccomrade Guobadia further said he has been working with government and trying to make them see reasons why there should be strong collaboration between the government and the association in regard to the usage of tyre on the road.
“People look at the job as ordinary, but the truth is this, we are all at the mercy of a tyre technician. Regardless of your status; be you the number one citizen of a country, as long as you can get and board a vehicle and that vehicle runs on tyre, you are at the mercy of a tyre technician; who install, who inflated or may have repaired that tyre.
“So it is a profession that actually deserves mentally and physical states of the mind. It is not a profession where you work and you are drunk. It’s a profession that you have self esteem, you believe in yourself, you know yourself because the vehicle that comes to you regardless of its size and model, it runs on a tyre that a tyre technician governs over. And if there is a defect at the point of installation or there is defect in air inflation, the tyre on that vehicle might not get the vehicle to its destination or might even lead to accident that might even involved other road users as well,” he stated.
He promised to take the campaign on upskilling of vulcanizers to make them become full fledged tyre technicians to various offices and departments of government.
“Hopefully, we would be talking to the National Assembly, we would be talking to the Edo State House of Assembly, as well. We would be meeting the the Edo State governor. We would also try as much as possible to meet with the minister of transport, the Corps Marshall and Chief Executive of Federal Road Safety Corps and even to the doorstep of Mr. president,” he said.
He thanked the EDSTMA Academy for embracing his association and for allowing them to start the training program, meant to upskill members of his association.
On her part, head of academy,EDSTMA, Mrs. Mrs. Elizabeth Adesuloye urged the trainess to maintain high standard of professionalism in the discharge of their duties to ensure vehicles are in better condition to ply roads.
Speaking with TREND REPORTERS, the EDSTMA head of academy described the training as the first step in becoming a tyre technician, noting that subsequent training programs would be organized for the trainees to enable them realize their dream of becoming a full fledge tyre technicians.
While making comparison between who a vulcanizer and a tyre technician is, she stated “a vulcanizer is one who does repairs and inflate tyres, but a technician is a trained professional that has been trained and certified; has certificate to prove that he has attended series of trainings. He does not just only repairs, he installs, he rotate, he can also help to identify if the thread of one’s car tyres are worn out and further advise on what to do”.
In a lecture entitled “Workforce Life Balance” Igene Sophia of the EDSTMA Academy urged the trainees to endeavour to balance their personal life with their profession.
According to her, such gesture would tyre management help them to be more productive in their profession as well as make them enjoy a healthy life and a good relationship with their families and others.
Another staff of the academy, Mrs Osato Igbinadolor who took the upcoming tyre technicians on the rudiments of tyre management, encourage them to be civil and diplomatic in their utterances and dealings with customers.
Meanwhile, all the trainees drawn from various part of Edo State thanked the EDSTMA Academy for putting the training together.They observed that the knowlegde gained from the training workshop has further broaden their knowledge and understanding of their profession.
They equally appreciated their national president, comrade Uyi Guobadia for his efforts at ensuring that the association moves forward and contribute meaningfully to the wellbeing of society.
