The minister of state for industry, trade and investment, John Enoh, on Monday, inaugurated an automotive training centre at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu, Lagos.

Mr Enoh, at the inauguration, said that the centre was part of government’s broader plan to strengthen the automotive industry and boost economic growth.

The initiative is designed to drive job creation, skills development, and technology transfer in the country’s automotive sector.

He explained that the initiative aligned with the national automotive policy, which seeks to promote local vehicle production, achieve 40 per cent local content, and attain 30 per cent production of electric vehicles in the country.

“The policy is also aimed at generating about one million jobs. It has therefore become imperative to invest in infrastructure and human capacity development to meet the targets,” he said.

Mr Enoh disclosed that the federal government had constructed 21 automotive training centres nationwide to ensure fairness and even distribution of national assets across all geopolitical zones.

According to him, the centres are located in Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Kogi, Plateau, Niger, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kano, Ebonyi, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, and Lagos.

He noted that more centres would be established to expand job opportunities, strengthen technology transfer, stimulate economic activities, and reduce social vices among unemployed youths.

The minister commended the management of the host university for providing land for the project.

Mr Enoh also lauded President Bola Tinubu for approving the automotive policy, describing it as a critical pillar of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in addressing youth empowerment.

Also speaking, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State described the automotive industry as “the bedrock of industrial development” globally.

He said the centre would equip Lagos youths and technicians with modern knowledge in automotive maintenance and repairs.

According to him, the facility is furnished with state-of-the-art tools and will enable students to train with the same diagnostic equipment, service protocols, and safety systems used in modern workshops and dealerships worldwide.

“This centre will ensure that our citizens not only use these technologies but also understand, maintain, and innovate with them,” he said.

Mr Sanwo-Olu explained that the centre was built on three pillars: providing skills that match industry needs, setting standards that protect the public, and creating opportunities that generate jobs.

He commended the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) for siting the centre in Ikorodu, a location he described as home to industrious youths, artisans, and emerging industrial clusters that would benefit greatly from the project.

Meanwhile, Oluwemimo Osanipin, director-general of NADDC, said that the new automotive training centre demonstrated the council’s commitment to developing Nigeria’s automotive industry.

He explained that the centre formed part of ongoing efforts to implement the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP).

According to him, the vision is to position Nigeria as one of the leading automotive manufacturing nations in the world.

He said that the facility would provide training and skills development programmes for artisans, technicians, and engineers in the automotive sector, with the goal of enhancing their capabilities, improving service quality, and boosting the local content of assembled vehicles.

Mr Osanipin reiterated the council’s commitment to research and development, industrial infrastructure, and local automotive component production.

He said that the ultimate goal of NADDC was to create an enabling environment for the production of Nigerian-made vehicles that meet international standards, while working with stakeholders to achieve this objective.

The vice-chancellor of LASUSTECH, POlumuyiwa Odusanya, noted that the institution was proud to serve as a training platform in alignment with NADDC’s mandate in automobile design and development.

“Our university is very pleased to have the centre at our Ikorodu campus. It will serve as a place for concept design, prototyping, and commercialisation.

“NADDC has done us a lot of good by locating the centre at our university. As a young institution, we aim to be highly competitive, globally acclaimed, and world-class.

“We have made much progress in this regard on many fronts. The blueprint for achieving this is our IMPACT agenda, which focuses on six key strategic areas,” he said.

Best Nnodim, president of the Automotive Sector Skills Council of Nigeria, commended NADDC for its vision and commitment to capacity building.

According to him, the initiative is not just about commissioning a training facility but also about commissioning hope, opportunity, and a future where Nigeria’s automotive sector could compete globally.

Mr Nnodim said that the council would continue to partner with NADDC, LASUSTECH, and other stakeholders to ensure that the training centre becomes a hub of excellence in technical training, research, and innovation. 

(NAN)