The National Automotive Design and Development Council, in collaboration with the Edo State Government, has begun the training of 50 women in the state on the conversion of petrol-powered vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas-powered vehicles.
At the opening ceremony in Benin on Monday, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NADDC, Olumemimo Osanipin, said the initiative aligned with the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting cleaner and cheaper energy in the transport sector.
He said the training would also equip and empower technicians with the skills to safely and competently convert vehicles to CNG. Olumemimo, who was represented by Deputy Director, Industrial Infrastructure, Joke Onireti, said the initiative would promote gender equality, economic empowerment, as well as contribute to the growth of the automotive sector within the CNG ecosystem in Nigeria.
He stated that the training was part of the NADDC’s efforts to promote the adoption of CNG as a cheaper, cleaner, and safer fuel for mobility in Nigeria.
He said, “This training is designed to last for five days and to provide technicians with theoretical and practical hands-on knowledge on the conversion of petrol-powered vehicles to CNG-powered vehicles.
“The aim is to actively engage trainees in a variety of learning outcomes and promote teamwork among them. The training is structured to allow ample time for hands-on practice, enabling participants to demonstrate and apply the acquired knowledge and technical know-how practically.
“After the removal of fuel subsidies, the present government said we should look for alternatives. We have been training males on CNG conversions. We want to introduce many ladies to this sector. They will have skill upgrades on how to convert to CNG. This is the first training for ladies in collaboration with the state government and Lady Mechanic.
Director of Lady Mechanic Initiative, Sandra Aguebor, said it was the first time women were being trained and certified as CNG conversion specialists.
Aguebor said the beneficiaries would be deployed to workshops after the training. She encouraged the beneficiaries to focus on the training so as to set up their workshops in the future.
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