FG, NADDC flags off CNG conversion training for NYSC corps members in South-East

From Geoffrey Anyanwu and Jude Chinedu, Enugu

The Federal Government has commenced a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle retrofitting training programme for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the South-East zone.

The programme, organised under the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) initiative in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), was flagged off in Enugu on Tuesday.

Earlier, similar training had taken place last week in Abuja and in Lagos on Monday, where corps members were empowered through the training programme.

The training is designed to equip corps members with practical skills in CNG vehicle conversion and create opportunities for them to become self-reliant after their service year.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Youth Initiatives, Dr Titi Gbadamosi making her speech in Enugu during the training.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Youth Initiatives, Dr Titi Gbadamosi, said the initiative was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to prepare young Nigerians for the opportunities emerging from the country’s transition to alternative energy.

Gbadamosi described the NYSC programme as a critical transition between formal education and the wider world, stressing that the government had a responsibility to ensure that corps members were equipped with relevant skills before completing their service.

“It gives me pleasure to be among you today. The Enugu State camp is one of the most coordinated camps I have visited.

“The NYSC is a transition phase between school and the real world. It is our duty to make sure that the transition is not just smooth but perfect. That is why we keep improving on the SAED programme,” she said.

She urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously, saying the CNG sector offered significant employment opportunities for young Nigerians.

According to her, following the removal of the fuel subsidy, President Tinubu decided to encourage the use of Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources as an alternative fuel source.

She said the Federal Government had set a target of converting 100,000 vehicles to CNG annually, adding that the target would create opportunities for trained technicians and entrepreneurs in the sector.

Representative of the the Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin and Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, NADDC, Me Ikechukwu Okoha making a speech during the training in Enugu on Tuesday.

“That is why we thought that we should also introduce CNG conversion into the SAED programme. These young Nigerians were selected from different fields of engineering.

“If you take this seriously, you are the future of the energy space in Nigeria. Your training will continue all year long so that, as you end your service, you will be a certified CNG converter,” Gbadamosi said.

She added that the initiative reflected the President’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians with practical skills that could translate into sustainable livelihoods.

Representing the Director-General of the NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, at the event, Mr. Ikechukwu Okoha, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, said the Council was fully committed to the success of the programme.

He urged the beneficiaries to pay close attention to both the theoretical and practical aspects of the training, describing practical knowledge as essential to succeeding in the CNG conversion business.

“This is a laudable project of the Federal Government. I urge all the beneficiaries to pay attention throughout the training programme. The practical knowledge is very important.

“Those of you who are able to establish a conversion centre after your service year, the NADDC will give you all the licences you need free of charge. This is an opportunity you must make use of,” Okoha said.

He assured the trainees that the NADDC would continue to support them throughout the process.

The NYSC State Coordinator, Enugu State, Mrs. Oluwakemi Awolola, in her remarks, described the programme as a laudable Federal Government initiative, noting that Enugu was among the pilot states selected for the CNG training.

She urged the corps members to take advantage of the opportunity to acquire skills that would enable them to become employers of labour rather than job seekers after their service year.

“This is an opportunity for you to develop yourself and build a future so that, at the end of your service, you will not look for jobs.

“You are aware that the price of petrol keeps skyrocketing. You are being trained so that you can train others and help them become self-reliant,” she said.

One of the beneficiaries, Lilian Jamike, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the opportunity, saying the training had already exposed her to valuable knowledge about CNG conversion.

“This is an opportunity given to us by the Federal Government to learn about CNG conversion. After this training, we will be able to train fellow corps members. I have learnt a lot already,” she said.

The programme is expected to continue throughout the corps members’ service year, with beneficiaries receiving further training and practical exposure to enable them to obtain certification and potentially establish CNG conversion centres after their service.

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