Another milestone – Automotive Skill Upgrade and Certification Programme for Youths

One more strategic step has been taken toward strengthening our industrial foundation and youth workforce capabilities with the successful completion of the Automotive Skill Upgrade and Certification Programme, where 100 young Nigerians were formally certified in modern automotive diagnostics, mechanical repair, EV fundamentals, and fabrication skills.

This inaugural initiative, the first of many, is expected to open up more opportunities for interested youths across the nation.

Hon. Sunday Dare the Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity/Spokesperson while speaking at the closing ceremony in Ibadan, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to expanding high-value technical opportunities for young Nigerians as a core pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He emphasized that this achievement represents a transition “from training to real economic outcomes,” aligning national youth development with the country’s broader industrialisation drive.

At the centre of this programme is a new model of youth empowerment that blends federal policy, private-sector partnership, and direct workforce inclusion.

The initiative implemented by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) in collaboration with the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives certified young technicians through rigorous practical assessments conducted by industry experts.

The event also featured strategic commitments from private-sector leaders. The Director-General of NADDC, Chief Joseph Osanipin, the CEO of Nord Motors, Mr. Oluwatobi Ajayi, and the Managing Director of Lanre Shittu Motors, Mr. Taiwo Shittu, all emphasised the industry’s readiness to absorb certified youth into Nigeria’s rapidly evolving mobility sector.

Their collective interventions resulted in automatic job placements and start-up support packages, including tools and funding for outstanding trainees.

This outcomes-based approach signals a significant shift in Nigeria’s technical development landscape away from theoretical programmes instead moving toward measurable, labour-market driven interventions that create real jobs, support enterprise growth, and strengthen the domestic automotive value chain.

The initiative further aligns with the Nigeria Auto Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) and supports the national goal of building a highly skilled workforce capable of powering the country’s transition to modern vehicle technologies, clean mobility, and expanded local manufacturing capacity.

With strong private-sector engagement, targeted federal support, and a network of youth focused partners, Nigeria continues to advance its ambition to build a resilient, competitive, and innovation-driven automotive ecosystem led by young Nigerians.