Fifty Edo women were awarded certificates and given start-up kits after completing a four-day training in Compressed Natural Gas automobile conversion.
The training was done by the National Automotive Design and Development Council, in partnership with the Edo State Government and the Lady Mechanic Initiative.
The graduation ceremony was held on Friday at the New Festival Hall, Government House in Benin City.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who spoke at the event, described the moment as historic in reshaping perceptions about women in Nigeria’s energy and industrial sectors.
She said, “This moment is more than a graduation. It is a declaration of what is possible when progressive policies meet courageous women. These 50 women are not just mechanics—they are trailblazers and proof that the Renewed Hope Agenda is delivering real results.
The minister revealed that over 1,500 women have now been trained as auto mechanics across the country, many through programmes initiated by the Lady Mechanic Initiative, led by Engineer Sandra Aguebor.
She said the CNG initiative followed extensive consultations in the automotive sector and aimed to position women at the forefront of Nigeria’s industrial revolution.
She added, “This programme is about rewriting the narrative, placing women not just in workshops but at the heart of national transformation. Careers have no gender, and dreams must know no limits.”
The minister further revealed plans to expand the programme to include the training and empowerment of female commercial drivers and Keke NAPEP operators, using clean energy vehicles and supported by financial literacy education.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, Barrister Ifeoma Williams commended the inclusion of women in the country’s clean energy initiatives.
She also advocated for the integration of CNG conversion training into the national Technical and Vocational Education and Training curriculum, promising to support the programme’s expansion nationwide.
In his remarks, NADDC Director General, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, said that Edo State was selected for the pilot phase due to its high number of trained female mechanics and its early adoption of CNG technology.
“Edo State is not new to automotive innovation. It was among the first to begin CNG use, even before it became national policy. This programme is both technically and economically viable, given Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves.
“By empowering women in this space, we are building national capacity and ensuring inclusive access to the CNG value chain. Countries that have invested in women’s participation in the auto sector have also seen the highest uptake of gas-powered vehicles. Nigeria can and must follow suit”, he said.
Delivering the address of Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Umar Musa Ikhilor, praised the uniqueness of the Edo State programme.
Engineer Sandra Aguebor, widely celebrated as Nigeria’s first female mechanic and founder of the Lady Mechanic Initiative, was lauded by the ministers for her pioneering contributions.
In her remarks, she credited her success to her passion for the profession and urged the graduates to remain committed in order to succeed.
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