The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, on July 14, 2025, paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu.
According to the NADDC, the visit focused on strengthening collaboration between NADDC and the state government to advance automotive development and technical capacity within the region. A key highlight of the discussion was the allocation of land for the construction of Automotive Training Centres (ATCs) and an Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station in the state.
In his remarks, Mr. Osanipin emphasized the importance of establishing ATCs in Cross River State, noting that the Council would support the deployment of training kits under the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGI). These kits would be used to convert PMS-powered vehicles to CNG-powered vehicles. The centres would also be designed to serve as hubs for practical training, similar to recent programmes conducted in Ekiti and Kano States to upskill auto technicians.
He further explained that the ATCs would address the shortage of well-equipped workshops in Cross River State. With the construction of these centres, local auto technicians will gain access to modern training facilities and workshops, enabling them to upgrade their skills and better serve their communities.
During the engagement, the Director General reaffirmed NADDC’s strong support for the Guild of Automobile and Allied Technicians Nigeria (GATA) and its members, committing to continuous training and professional development programmes to enhance technical capacity across the state.
In this regard, a formal proposal had already been submitted to the University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa, requesting the release of land for the construction of the ATC and EV Charging Station. Once completed next year, the centre is expected to train at least 50 technicians in its first phase.
Speaking, the governor, represented by the Vice Chairman of the Cross River State Planning Commission, Mr. Bong Duke, expressed his gratitude for the initiative and confirmed that one hectare of land had been approved for the project at the University of Education and Entrepreneurship in Akamkpa.
He commended NADDC for its commitment to human capital development and pledged the state’s full cooperation to ensure the success of the project.
The DG and Dr. Bong Duke also held discussions with a team of technicians from GATA, sharing plans and highlighting how the technicians would benefit from NADDC’s support and the new training facilities.
Responding, the GATA members expressed their heartfelt appreciation to NADDC and the Cross River State Government, describing the land approval as a significant milestone in realising their vision and expanding technical capacity in the state.
