By Lucy Ogalue
The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) says it plans to train at least 1,000 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members annually in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle retrofitting.
NADDC Director-General, Mr Joseph Osanipin, said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the inauguration of the CNG Retrofitting Training Programme being implemented in partnership with the NYSC.
The programme is being executed under the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) initiative to equip young Nigerians with skills required for the country’s transition to cleaner energy.
Osanipin said the training would help participants understand CNG technology, vehicle conversion processes and the operational dynamics of the emerging alternative fuel sector.
“Because CNG is new, we have to train our youths to understand how it works, its dynamics and how to convert vehicles,” he said.
He explained that the programme would also expose beneficiaries to opportunities in technical services, maintenance, entrepreneurship and other segments of the growing CNG value chain.
According to him, the first phase will train 300 corps members across six locations, with 50 participants selected from each centre for the pilot exercise.
Osanipin said the programme would run for three years before a comprehensive review to incorporate lessons learned and emerging developments within the industry.
“Those who perform well can receive further support, including employment opportunities, entrepreneurship guidance and access to other courses within the CNG ecosystem,” he said.
He emphasised that infrastructure and vehicles alone could not drive Nigeria’s energy transition without adequately trained technicians, engineers, entrepreneurs and safety professionals.
“Skills are required. Technicians are essential. Engineers are indispensable. Entrepreneurs are required. Standards and certification are required,” Osanipin said.
He added that NADDC would collaborate with the NYSC and other stakeholders on competency development, certification, monitoring and continuous improvement of the programme.
Osanipin expressed confidence that the initiative would evolve into a sustainable national platform for building a skilled workforce for Nigeria’s CNG and clean mobility sectors.
The Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, said the programme reflected government’s commitment to equipping young people with practical and employable skills.
“Certificate alone cannot do it. The only way unemployment can go is for government to provide an enabling environment for young people to thrive,” Olawande said.
He said that the initiative would empower participants with skills capable of creating jobs for themselves and generating employment opportunities for others.
The NYSC Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, said the programme aligned with the Corps’ objective of reducing youth unemployment through skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development.
Nafiu said the pilot phase would focus on mechanical, electrical and mechatronics engineering graduates, alongside other interested corps members with relevant backgrounds.
“As we progress, we will expand the net and absorb other interests. Our goal is to ensure our youths become gainfully employed,” he said.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives, Dr Titilope Badamosi, described the programme as part of efforts to tackle youth unemployment nationwide.
Badamosi said 300 corps members would be trained in Abuja, Adamawa, Kano, Lagos, Edo and Enugu states during the pilot phase of implementation.
She added that beneficiaries would undergo continuous practical training throughout their service year through placements at accredited CNG conversion centres.
According to her, the initiative supports the government’s “One Youth, Two Skills” agenda and broader efforts to reduce poverty, unemployment and economic vulnerability among young Nigerians.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru