The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to developing the skills, talents and productive capacity of Nigerian youths while strengthening the automotive industry as a critical pillar of national industrial development, with the commissioning of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) Automotive Training Centre in Ebonyi State. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held on Thursday, September 18, 2026.
The Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, described the facility as an investment in people, technology and the future of Nigeria’s automotive industry. He stated that the Centre would provide young Nigerians with practical, industry-relevant training in automotive technology, vehicle diagnostics, repairs and maintenance, mechatronics and emerging automotive technologies. The Minister noted that meaningful industrial transformation could not be achieved without a skilled workforce, stressing that the Federal Government’s Automotive Policy places emphasis on increasing local vehicle production, developing local content, promoting technology transfer and building the technical capacity required to position Nigeria as a competitive automotive manufacturing and servicing hub.
Senator Enoh explained that the establishment of Automotive Training Centres across the six geopolitical zones was designed to promote equity, inclusion and balanced national development by ensuring that young Nigerians, regardless of their geographical location, have access to employable and entrepreneurial skills in the automotive sector. He highlighted the strategic importance of Ebonyi State and the wider South-East region, noting the area’s enterprising population, commercial activities and emerging industrial potential. According to him, the Centre could transform the region’s existing strengths in entrepreneurship, vehicle repairs, spare-parts distribution and technical craftsmanship into modern and internationally competitive automotive enterprises. He also emphasized the Centre’s potential to support Nigeria’s emerging clean mobility agenda by developing technicians with the skills required to safely install, maintain, diagnose and service Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Electric Vehicles (EVs) and other cleaner transportation technologies.
The Minister urged NADDC to ensure that the value of the Centre is measured by the quality and impact of activities taking place within the facility rather than the infrastructure alone. He called for continuous upgrading of training equipment, modern curricula, competent instructors and stronger partnerships with automobile manufacturers, assemblers, component producers, technical institutions and private-sector operators. He also stressed the importance of connecting graduates with employment, entrepreneurship opportunities, further training and relevant government interventions. Senator Enoh commended the Director-General/CEO of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, for his commitment to advancing automotive skills development and ensuring the realization of the facility, while appreciating the Government and people of Ebonyi State for their cooperation and support. He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of economic growth, industrialisation, youth empowerment, job creation and sustainable development.
The Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, described the Centre as a strategic investment in the future of the State and Nigeria’s automotive technology ecosystem. He stated that the facility was not an extension of the conventional mechanic workshop, but a deliberate investment in the hands that would repair vehicles, the minds that would diagnose automotive systems, the engineers who would design solutions and the entrepreneurs who would establish businesses and create employment opportunities. Governor Nwifuru expressed, on behalf of the Government and people of Ebonyi State, profound appreciation to NADDC and the Presidency for the realisation of the project, welcoming the partnership and assuring the Federal Government of the State’s readiness to deepen the collaboration. He further noted that the sustainable development of Ebonyi State must rest on a strong foundation of infrastructure, human capital, technology and productive enterprise, adding that the State Government is deliberately creating an environment in which industries can thrive and its people can acquire the skills required to participate effectively in those industries.
The Chairman of the NADDC Governing Board, Chief Emma Eneukwu, described the commissioning as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to translating the Renewed Hope Agenda into tangible opportunities for Nigerians, particularly young people in the South-East. He commended the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment for its continued support to NADDC and appreciated the Government and people of Ebonyi State for their partnership, cooperation and hospitality. Chief Eneukwu reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to providing the necessary policy direction and oversight to ensure that NADDC’s programmes and investments deliver measurable benefits to Nigerians, while congratulating the people of Ebonyi State on the landmark achievement.
In his remarks, the Director-General/CEO of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, described the commissioning as a significant milestone in the Council’s efforts to develop a highly skilled and productive automotive workforce for Nigeria. He explained that the establishment of Automotive Training Centres across the six geopolitical zones forms part of NADDC’s mandate to facilitate the sustainable development of the Nigerian automotive industry through the effective utilisation of local human and material resources. According to him, the Centres are designed to serve as hubs for automotive skills acquisition, technical innovation, entrepreneurship development, technology transfer and workforce preparation for an industry that is rapidly evolving in response to new vehicle technologies and global trends. He stated that the Ebonyi Centre, equipped with modern training equipment, tools and facilities, would provide practical and industry-relevant training for youths, technicians, artisans, students, vehicle owners, entrepreneurs and other automotive practitioners within Ebonyi State and the wider South-East region.
Osanipin noted that Ebonyi State’s economic activities in agriculture, commerce, enterprise development, manufacturing and solid mineral exploitation depend substantially on efficient transportation, agricultural mechanisation, heavy-duty equipment and reliable automotive services. He explained that the availability of a specialised Automotive Training Centre would complement the State’s economic development efforts by producing skilled personnel capable of maintaining and servicing vehicles, machinery and equipment that support these productive sectors. He further stated that the Centre aligns with the objectives of the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), which seeks to promote local vehicle production and assembly, attract investment, strengthen local content, develop indigenous technical capacity, create employment and deepen the automotive value chain. He added that NADDC would continue to reposition its training programmes to respond to emerging technologies, including CNG, EVs, automotive mechatronics, electronic diagnostics and other new-generation technologies.
The Director-General expressed appreciation to the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, for his continued support, guidance and commitment to the development of Nigeria’s automotive sector. He also appreciated the Government and people of Ebonyi State, under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, for their hospitality, cooperation and commitment to initiatives promoting skills development, youth empowerment and industrial growth. The commissioning of the NADDC Automotive Training Centre in Ebonyi State marks another significant step in the Council’s efforts to expand access to quality automotive training, promote technical innovation and develop a skilled workforce capable of contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s industrial transformation. NADDC reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening automotive training infrastructure, promoting strategic partnerships, supporting innovation, developing local content and implementing programmes that will accelerate the growth and competitiveness of Nigeria’s automotive industry.
