August 25, 2025 – The Federal Government, through the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), has commissioned a state-of-the-art Automotive Training Centre at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu.
The commissioning ceremony, held on August 25, 2025, brought together key stakeholders from government, academia, and the automotive industry.
Representing the Lagos State Governor, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mrs. Morenikeji Azeez described the project as a timely initiative aimed at empowering young people and supporting the automotive sector in Nigeria.
She said, “Lagos State has laid great importance on training Lagosians in modern automotive technology. This facility will not only enhance the skills of youths and technicians but also strengthen the automotive industry in Lagos and Nigeria at large. With world-class equipment, our students will now train with the same diagnostic tools and safety systems used globally.”
The Honourable Minister of State for Industry under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Senator John Owan Enoh, explained that the new training centre is part of the Federal Government’s broader Automotive Policy.
According to him, the policy is designed to promote job creation, skills acquisition, technology transfer, and GDP growth. He added that it also aims to boost local vehicle production, achieve 40 percent local content, and ensure that 30 percent of vehicles produced in Nigeria are electric, with the target of creating one million jobs.
Highlighting the importance of decentralisation, Senator Enoh disclosed that the Lagos Automotive Training Centre is one of 23 such facilities strategically located across the country to guarantee equitable distribution of national assets.
Also speaking at the event, the NADDC Board Chairman, His Eminence Chief Emma Eneukwu, OFR, hailed the commissioning as a landmark achievement.
He described the facility as “a beacon of opportunity,” stressing its importance in training, research, and vehicle maintenance.
He further noted that the centre would prepare Nigerian students for emerging technologies, including Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversions, which are increasingly shaping global transportation.
In his remarks, the NADDC Director-General, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, reaffirmed the Council’s mandate to drive sustainable growth in Nigeria’s automotive sector through targeted investments in skills development and infrastructure.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the new Automotive Policy, noting that the initiative was made possible under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Mr. Osanipin disclosed that the NADDC is currently constructing 23 training centres across the six geopolitical zones to expand opportunities for young Nigerians, promote innovation, and support local automotive value chains.
He further explained that Lagos was a strategic choice for the training facility due to its position as Nigeria’s commercial hub and a centre of innovation, trade, and entrepreneurship.
Ikorodu’s strong industrial clusters and vibrant micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were also highlighted as major enablers of the project.
The commissioning of the NADDC Automotive Training Centre at LASUSTECH is seen as more than an infrastructure milestone.
It represents a collaborative effort between government, academia, and industry to prepare Nigeria for the future of mobility, address unemployment, and strengthen national development.