The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has trained 50 auto-technicians in Oyo State on the maintenance and repair of petrol and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) tricycles.
The training, which was held in Ibadan, was organised in collaboration with the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiative (Monitoring and Delivery) and DAG Industry Limited, the makers of Bajaj motorcycles.
NADDC, a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, said the training is part of its ongoing efforts to equip Nigerian youths with practical skills that align with modern automotive technology and clean energy development.
The Director-General of NADDC, Mr. Oluwemimo Osanipin, said the four-day programme was aimed at empowering Nigerian youths through practical and industry-driven knowledge. Represented by Mrs. Joke Onireti, Director of the Industrial Infrastructure Department, NADDC, he said the skills gained from the training would prepare participants for new opportunities emerging within the nation’s automotive and clean energy sector.
Osanipin explained that with Nigeria adopting Compressed Natural Gas as part of its energy transition plan, it was important for technicians to be trained on the technology to remain relevant in the changing job market.
“We want to train them on how to fix, maintain, and repair CNG motorcycles and tricycles, which is the new technology coming into the country,” he said.
“In terms of automotive, technology is not static; it is flexible, and every year new technology keeps coming out, and Nigeria needs to keep moving along,” he added.
The NADDC Director-General noted that the ongoing shift from conventional fuel to CNG in Nigeria was not just a matter of adopting a new technology but about building people’s capacity, knowledge, and confidence in the system.
“So, as we embrace this clean energy transition agenda, it is important to recognise that awareness and training are the bedrock of success in this journey,” he said.
According to him, the use of CNG tricycles involves specialised systems that require precision, care, and technical expertise to maintain.
“Nigerian youths must be trained to build a workforce of competent technicians who can maintain and service CNG tricycles safely. This will empower our youths with new skills, opening doors to employment and entrepreneurship within the CNG value chain,” he said.
Dr. Titilope Gbadamosi, the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiative (Monitoring and Delivery), said the participants would form part of a new generation of skilled technicians and innovators across Nigeria.
According to her, the trained technicians would not only repair machines but also sustain their livelihoods and improve transportation efficiency.
She noted that her office would continue to partner with ministries, agencies, and industry stakeholders to ensure that young Nigerians were not left behind in the nation’s economic growth.
“The success of this training will inspire others and contribute to improved expertise in Nigeria, which can, in turn, be exported to other countries of the world,” Gbadamosi said.
Mr. Chandan Kumar, Deputy Service Head at DAG Industry Limited, said participants were trained on diagnostics and repairs, fuel system management, and safety measures in handling CNG components.
He said the training also covered preventive maintenance and entrepreneurial guidance to help participants start their own workshops.
Mr. Adisa Olalekan, the Oyo State Chairman of the Tricycle Mechanic Development Association, commended NADDC and its partners for the initiative and promised to pass on the knowledge gained to other members of the association to promote wider skill development within the state.
