By Frank Kintum
In fulfilment of its promise to spread its Automotive Training Centres to as many parts of the country as possible, the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has unveiled one of such centres in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State.
Commissioned by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo CON, on Friday, May 26, 2023, the centre is equipped with modern Automotive facilities.
According to the Director General of NADDC, Jelani Aliyu, MFR, “Today marks another milestone at strengthening capacities in the history of auto sector in Nigeria to ensure poverty reduction and enhance skills acquisition.
“The Council is statutorily charged with the responsibility of ensuring sustainable development of the automotive industry in Nigeria using local human and material resources. To achieve this mandate, the Council has been promoting auto-engineering training, skills acquisition and capacity building in the auto industry in Nigeria.”
Justifying the establishment of such centres, Jelani stated that “In line with the Council’s mandate to promote skills development in the auto industry, Council constructed twenty-one (21) training centres that covers the six geo-political zones which include; Kogi, Bauchi, Enugu, Osun, Yobe, Gombe, Zamfara, Lagos, Jigawa, Akwa-Ibom, Plateau, Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Niger, Anambra, Abia, Ogun, Sokoto and Ekiti State. We are here today to commission NADDC Automotive Training Centre Ado-Ekiti which has received its training equipment/tools and has been installed.
“It is noteworthy to state that the significance of this training centre is one of the success stories of this present administration. The project will not only provide job opportunities for the youths but enhance skills among graduates / undergraduates and provides needed industrial infrastructure in the State.”
The DG equally commended the Minister for his support to the NADDC which has enabled the Council to achieve a lot within a short time.
Also speaking, the Minister
revealed that the “Federal Government plans to build more automotive training centers to provide job opportunities, enhance technology transfer, boost economic activities, enrich our country technologically as well as cushion the effect of joblessness, indolence amongst other societal ills.
“Let me end this by thanking Mr. President for approving the Automotive Policy without which these efforts would have been in vain.”
The Ekiti Stae Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, who was represented by the State Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Mr.Paul Adeyanju, thanked the Minister and NADDC for choosing Ekiti State to benefit from the setting up of such centres.
In the same vein, while thanking the Federal Government for the gesture, the traditional ruler of the area, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, urged those to make use of the facilities in the centre, to exercise caution and ensure judicious usage.
The event was graced by top government and private sector dignitaries as well as mechanics and technicians within that axis.
