FG Targets 100,000 Annual CNG Conversions, Trains NYSC Corps Members in Enugu
The Daily Times Nigeria 1 day ago 0
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to develop the technical manpower required for Nigeria’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) transition, with the training of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in vehicle conversion skills in Enugu.
The programme, organised by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), was flagged off in Enugu on Tuesday under the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) initiative.
The Enugu training is part of a six-location pilot programme targeting 300 Corps Members from relevant engineering backgrounds, with the Federal Capital Territory, Kano, Adamawa, Lagos, Edo and Enugu selected as participating locations.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Youth Initiatives (Monitoring and Delivery), Dr. Titilope Gbadamosi, said the initiative was designed to prepare young Nigerians for emerging opportunities in the country’s alternative-energy sector.
Gbadamosi described the NYSC service year as a critical transition between formal education and the workplace, stressing that government must ensure young Nigerians leave the programme with practical skills capable of supporting their livelihoods.
She said the CNG training was introduced into the SAED programme against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s decision to promote natural gas as an alternative fuel following the removal of petrol subsidy.
According to her, President Tinubu has set a target of converting 100,000 vehicles to CNG annually, creating a potentially large market for trained conversion technicians and entrepreneurs.
“That is why we thought that we should also introduce CNG conversion into the SAED programme. These young Nigerians were selected from different fields of engineering,” she said.
Gbadamosi urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously, describing them as part of the technical workforce that would drive Nigeria’s energy transition.
She disclosed that the training would not end with the initial sessions, as beneficiaries would continue gaining practical experience throughout their service year.
“If you take this seriously, you are the future of the energy space in Nigeria. Your training will continue all year long so that, as you end your service, you will be a certified CNG converter,” she said.
Representing the NADDC Director-General, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, NADDC, Mr. Ikechukwu Okoha, said the Council was committed to ensuring that the beneficiaries acquired practical competence rather than merely obtaining certificates.
He urged the trainees to pay close attention to both the theoretical and practical components of the programme, stressing that hands-on knowledge would be critical to succeeding in the CNG conversion business.
Okoha said NADDC would also support beneficiaries who were able to establish conversion centres after their service year.
“Those of you who are able to establish a conversion centre after your service year, the NADDC will give you all the licences you need free of charge. This is an opportunity you must make use of,” he said.
He assured the participants of the Council’s continued support as they progress from training into professional practice.
The NYSC State Coordinator, Enugu, Mrs. Oluwakemi Awolola, said the programme offered Corps Members an opportunity to acquire skills that could make them employers of labour rather than job seekers after their service.
She urged the beneficiaries to maximise the training and use the knowledge gained to build sustainable careers in the emerging CNG industry.
“This is an opportunity for you to develop yourself and build a future so that, at the end of your service, you will not look for jobs,” she said.
Awolola noted that the growing demand for alternative fuels made the training particularly relevant, adding that beneficiaries could also use their knowledge to train others and promote self-reliance.
One of the beneficiaries, Lilian Jamike, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the opportunity, saying the programme had already exposed participants to valuable knowledge about CNG conversion.
“This is an opportunity given to us by the Federal Government to learn about CNG conversion. After this training, we will be able to train fellow Corps Members. I have learnt a lot already,” she said.
The Enugu training is expected to continue throughout the Corps Members’ service year, providing them with further technical exposure and practical experience towards certification and possible establishment of CNG conversion centres.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the pool of skilled personnel available to support the Federal Government’s CNG conversion target while creating new employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young Nigerians.
