How National Institute of Transport Brings Mwalimu Nyerere’s Dreams to Reality -

By Staff
Writer

ONE among
the ambitious vision of the Founder of the Nation, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage
Nyerere, was Tanzania to have the tailor made facility for rolling out vital
training on transportation and logistics.

The
establishment of the country’s famous National Institute of Transport (NIT) was
a brainchild of such determined visions by Mwalimu Nyerere, among others.

As the
country currently prepares to mark commemoration of the life of Mwalimu Julius
Kambarage Nyerere, in October 14, the Dar es Salaam-based Institute has
something special to cerebrate and cherish about.

Mwalimu JK
Nyerere who was the first Prime Minister of independent Tanganyika (1961) and
first President of the United Republic of Tanzania, his vision for the NIT was
to see the Institute strengthening human resource capabilities of transport
operatives.

NIT Rector,
Professor Zacharia Mganilwa expressed that Mwalimu Nyerere founded the National
Institute of Transport in 1975 with the patriotic spirit and vision to improve
and standardize the key sector which plays pivotal role for the metamorphosis
of the country’s socioeconomic sector.

Upon its
inception, according to him, the facility formerly known as the National
Transport Corporation (NTC) was charged with the responsibility to
strengthening human resource capabilities of transport operatives and middle
level managers of subsidiary companies of NTC.

These
subsidiary companies in question were the National Bus Services Limited
(KAMATA), Usafiri Dar-as-Salaam Limited (UDA), Regional Transport Companies
(RETCOs), to mention but a few.

“After the collapse of East African Community
(EAC) in 1977, Kenya remained with Bandari College in Mombasa and Railway
College in Nairobi and Uganda was with Aviation College, Tanzania was only with
a statistical training centre. And
during that time, Tanzania was in an industrial economy and Mwalimu Nyerere
tasked NIT to produce more professionals to administer transport sector. ”

Professor
Mganilwa pointed out that in 1982, it was realized that there was need to have
an Institute that will cover all modes of transport and the Institute expanded
its area of activities and responsibilities.

“As a
result, NIT was re–established through NIT Act No. 24 of 1982 as an autonomous
Higher Learning Institution under the then Ministry of Communications and
Works. It came into operation on 1st July, 1983 through the Government Notice
No. 91. Currently, the Institute is under the Ministry of Transport. With legal
status and the Governing Council was given a mandate to govern and administer
the Institute.”

However, the
sixth phase the government under President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan has
continued to support the NIT in ensuring that all programs founded by Mwalimu JK
Nyerere for the Institute are successful implemented as planned.

Government
has invested a lot in improving the transport sector including construction of
roads, modern railway, ship construction and purchasing of aircrafts.

“Developments
made under the six phase government are pushing our Institute to increase
students intake and introduce new disciplines such as aviation engineering,
pilot and cabin crew training,” he said.

He pointed
out that in order to support growth as stipulated in the government’s five year
development plan and Vision 2025, there has been notable progress in the
transport industry with new modes such as gas and oil pipelines.

He
underscored that the government has continued empowering the National Institute
of Transport to enable them to meet its obligation of preparing experts in the
transport sector for Nation’s development.

Meanwhile, the election manifesto of ruling CCM-2020-
2025 directs the government to continue supporting the National Institute of
Transport so as to enable it provide more experts in the transport sector.

On
implementing their obligations, the NIT management under the support from the
state has managed to improve the teaching infrastructures and environment as
stated in the Institute’s National Vision of year 2025.

He said NIT
will continue to extend the scope of training according to the demand in
transport sectors namely roads, railway, air and marine.

Professor Mganilwa
thanked the six phase government for endorsing a budget that enables the NIT to
improve the teaching environment.

“These developments made under six phase
government necessitate that the National Institute of Transport train and
produce more highly qualified and competent people to cater for all modes of
transport including road, railway, maritime, air and pipeline,” he said.

In
supporting the NIT, the government has inaugurated two single-engine aircraft,
Cessna Skyhawk 172 to the National Institute of Transport (NIT) in its
ambitious plan to start offering courses for pilots locally

He pointed
out that the NIT staff are obliged to work continuously in increasing the
quality assurance of the Institute and introducing the contemporary teaching
methods and research.

National
Institute of Transport is the only such training Institute in Sub- Saharan
excluding South Africa, mandated by the Government of United Republic of
Tanzania to offer training in transport and communications.

The
Institute is fully accredited with the National Council for Technical Education
(NACTE) to provide Competence Based Education and Training (CBET) programmes at
the level of Certificate, Diploma and Degree (National Technical Awards -NTA
level 4 to level 8).

It is also
accredited with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT
International) to teach and examine CILT programmes of International
Introductory Certificates, International Certificates, Ordinary Diploma and
Advanced Diploma in Logistics and Transport.

In addition
to that, the Institute collaborates with the Open University of Tanzania (OUT)
and International Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Consult (IPSCMC) to
offer MBA in Logistics and Transport Management and Postgraduate Diploma in
Procurement and Supply Chain Management respectively.

The
Institute offers programmes in Logistics and Transport Management, Freight
Clearing and Forwarding, Procurement and Logistics Management, Automobile
Engineering, Business Administration, Computing Information Communication
Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Aviation Studies and Human Resources
Management.

NIT also is
offering Post Graduate Diplomas in Air Transport Management, Logistics and
Transport Management, Travel and Tourism, Shipping and Port Management,
Procurement and Logistics Management, Rail Transport Management, Transport
Economics, Road Transport Safety Management and Transport Engineering
Management. NIT also offers short term programmes and provides Research,
Consultancy and Community Services.

The
Institute has highly skilled personnel both academic and administrative staff.
It also has modern machines and equipments for teaching, research and
consultancy services. The equipments like modern Vehicle Inspection machines
which are only at NIT (Tanzania).