The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has launched a programme to train at least 1,000 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members annually in compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle retrofitting, marking a significant push to build technical capacity for Nigeria’s energy transition.
NADDC Director-General Joseph Osanipin announced the initiative on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the CNG Retrofitting Training Programme, implemented in partnership with the NYSC under its Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) scheme.
“Because CNG is new, we have to train our youths to understand how it works, its dynamics and how to convert vehicles,” Osanipin said. He explained that the training covers CNG technology, vehicle conversion processes, and the operational dynamics of the alternative fuel sector, while also exposing participants to opportunities in technical services, maintenance, and entrepreneurship across the growing CNG value chain.
The pilot phase will train 300 corps members across six locations — Abuja, Adamawa, Kano, Lagos, Edo, and Enugu — with 50 participants selected at each centre. The programme prioritises graduates in mechanical, electrical, and mechatronics engineering, alongside other corps members with relevant technical backgrounds.
NYSC Director-General Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu said the initiative aligns with the corps’ objective of reducing youth unemployment through skills acquisition. “As we progress, we will expand the net and absorb other interests. Our goal is to ensure our youths become gainfully employed,” he said.
The programme will run for three years before a comprehensive review to incorporate lessons learned and industry developments. High-performing participants may receive further support, including employment opportunities, entrepreneurship guidance, and access to additional courses within the CNG ecosystem.
Osanipin emphasised that infrastructure and vehicles alone cannot drive Nigeria’s energy transition without adequately trained technicians, engineers, entrepreneurs, and safety professionals. “Skills are required. Technicians are essential. Engineers are indispensable. Entrepreneurs are required. Standards and certification are required,” he said.
Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande described the programme as reflecting government commitment to equipping young people with practical, employable skills. “Certificate alone cannot do it. The only way unemployment can go is for government to provide an enabling environment for young people to thrive,” Olawande said.
Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives Dr Titilope Badamosi said beneficiaries would undergo continuous practical training throughout their service year through placements at accredited CNG conversion centres. She added that the initiative supports the government’s “One Youth, Two Skills” agenda and broader efforts to reduce poverty, unemployment, and economic vulnerability among young Nigerians.
NADDC will collaborate with the NYSC and other stakeholders on competency development, certification, monitoring, and continuous improvement of the programme, with the aim of establishing a sustainable national platform for building a skilled workforce for Nigeria’s CNG and clean mobility sectors.
