REPORT OF THE ROUND TABLE MEETING WITH BITZER KULMASCHINENBAU
GmbH COMPANY AND STAKEHOLDERS ON COLLABORATION IN THE
REFRIGERATION AND AIR CONDITIONING SECTOR AND PROMOTION OF
MARKETING STRATEGY FOR HYDROCARBON REFRIGERANTS, 20TH-21ST
JANUARY, 2016 HELD AT LAGOS.
OBJECTIVE OF THE MEETING:
 To meet with Bitzer company and other stakeholders in the R & A
sector
 To visit some selected Training centers in Lagos for possible upgrade
of one of them by Bitzer company in preparation for proposed
training of Technicians in RA&C sector.
DETAILED ACTIVITIES: The meeting started at 10:00am at the Federal
Ministry of Environment conference Hall, Lagos. The meeting opened with
welcoming all participants by the National Ozone Officer Engr. I. A. In his
address, the National Ozone Officer gave a brief on the implementation of
Montreal Protocol’s ODS Phase-out Programme in Nigeria and also the role
of UNDP as the implementing agency. Afterwards the representative of the
German company Bitzer, Mrs. Viola Huth, introduced her company as the
world’s largest independent manufacturer of compressor and condenser
units for application such as commercial and Industrial refrigeration and
transport cooling. She said the company is looking to a long term
commitment in Nigeria and to make a wide investment in Africa including
Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal. She further said that the company will open an
Office in Lagos and will employ skill full personnel. She further informed the
participants that she would like to visit some of the centers in order to
inspect and upgrade the existing facilities in the R & A department for
training of technicians on refrigeration practices. She provided a template
which contains the information of the company and its products. Mr.
William Adebisi drew her attention on the need to established a service
center in the country and make provision of more of their spare parts
available, as presently they have about 40 of their products but due to lack
of servicing most of the customers are afraid to purchase them.
In her response, Mrs. Viola Huth said she would like to visit the centers and
choose one among the best to serve as the pilot center for the train the
trainer of the technicians on how to assemble and dismantle compressor
and fix back compressors. The meeting came to an end and the team
proceeded for visiting of the centers as scheduled.
A. VISIT TO FSTC YABA, 20TH JANUARY, 2016
The team arrived FSTC Yaba, Lagos and was warmly receivedat the Vice
Principal Academic technical office by the Director/Principal of FSTC –Yaba
Mr. Rev. Ugoji who welcomed the team and gave them the brief of the
school and said the School has the best training laboratory and will benefit
if chosen as the center of the train the trainer. The teamwas taken round
the practical laboratory to inspect the existing equipment. Mr. Ogunbekun
Olusegun who is the laboratory technician in charge of the practical aspects
gave a full explanation of all the equipment and promised to partner with
Bitzer if the School is chosen for the training, the School curriculum was
introduced to Viola Huth who went through and made more emphasis on
provision of more materials for compressor fixing. A group photograph was
taken at the end of the visit.
B. VISIT TO NOIC 20TH JANUARY, 2016
The team arrived Nigerian Opportunities Industrial Centers at A14, Gbagada
Express way, Lagos and was received by the programme manager Mr.
Ibrahim Adeleke who welcomed the team and briefed them of their
activities in terms of training personnel and improving their skills in
different sectors. He took the team on a field inspection to their technical
laboratory especially the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning laboratory. He
introduced the team to the instructor in person of Mr. Oseni Razaq Oloyede
who gave a brief of their existing facilities and their status, he further
stated that they conduct training for half a year attending lectures and
conducting practical’s and half of the year for industrial training. The
student graduates with Trade-test/NABTEB certificate.
C. VISIT TO LAGOS STATE TECHNICAL & VOCATIONAL BOARD 21ST
JANUARY, 2016
The team arrived GTC Ikorudu and was warmly received by Mr. Afolabi who
led the team round for a field inspection of the laboratory. On arrival
coincidentally the Executive Secretary for Lagos State Technical and
Vocational Education Board also arrived GTC Ikorudu for a State inspection.
He met with Viola Huth where they exchange pleasantries, the Executive
Secretary expressed appreciation for Bitzer company’s visit and their effort
to improve the learning environment and skills of students in the technical
training centers. While inspecting the existing equipment in the laboratory,
Mr. Afolabi introduced to Viola Huth a cold room received from MTN Nig.
Ltd. donated to the School but the compressor is bad and got damaged.
Viola Huth pledge to send a new compressor from Bitzer company to
replace the damaged one and probably an additional compressor for the
School too. Mrs. Viola Huth expressed happiness on the existing equipment
found and promised to provide more as part of the training equipment if
GTC Ikorudu is chosen among the centers for the train the trainer of
technician on compressor assembling.
D. VISIT TO GTC AGIDINGBI ON 21ST JANUARY, 2016
The visiting team finally arrived Government Technical College Agidingbi to
inspect also the existing equipment in the Laboratory to enable the Bitzer
company to upgrade the existing equipment. On arrival the Laboratory
Technician welcome and took the team round the R&A laboratory and
made a full description of their existing equipment. Mrs Viola applauded
the Technician and promised to look into their request if chosen as the
center for their training. She also sought for more support from the
participants to cooperate with those Trainers that will come from Germany
and GTZ during the commencement of the training.
PARTICIPANTS DURING THE MEETING
GROUP PICTURE IN ONE OF THE LABORATORY VISITED
SOME OF THE EQUIPMENTS INSPECTED
INSPECTING INSIDE THE LABORATORY
Viola Huth (Bitzer) INSPECTING ONE OF THE COMPRESSOR UNIT
COMMENTS, OBSERVATION AND RECOMMENDATION
In view of the suggested collaboration of the HPMP Training
Programme with Bitzer Compressor repair and maintenance training, which
is to encourage the company as to create an enabling environment for the
company to establish in the country.
The Laboratory Technicians visited were asked to take an inventory of the
existing equipment in their labs and send through electronic to the National
Ozone Officer of the ministry to enable him collaborate and communicate
with the Bitzer company