By ebosele@hotmail.com –
The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Tertiary Education, has unveiled plans to partner with GAC Motors in providing advanced practical training for engineering students of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu.
The proposed collaboration took shape during a high-level tripartite meeting held at the Alausa Secretariat, which brought together officials of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, representatives of GAC Motors, and senior academic leaders from the two state-owned universities.
Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, said the partnership is designed to strategically integrate industry-driven technical skills into academic programmes.
He explained that the initiative would focus on vehicle assembly, advanced maintenance, servicing, and workshop-based training, with the aim of expanding job and entrepreneurship opportunities for engineering graduates.
According to Sule, the initiative aligns with the state’s vision of producing graduates who are not only theoretically sound but also practically competent and globally competitive.
He noted that equipping students with hands-on skills would promote self-reliance, innovation, and employability within the evolving automotive industry.
The Commissioner further stated that although state institutions already boast modern laboratories and qualified personnel, the proposed partnership must fully leverage these resources to deliver mutual benefits to students, GAC Motors, and Nigeria’s automobile sector.
In his remarks, Mr. Wale Akinwade, representing GAC Motors, reaffirmed the company’s long-standing business relationship with the Lagos State Government.
He disclosed that the collaboration would offer students significant capacity-building and economic empowerment opportunities, including access to practical training both within Nigeria and abroad.
Akinwade also revealed that outstanding students and academic staff would be considered for integration into the LAGBUS maintenance and ownership scheme, creating a clear pathway to professional engagement and entrepreneurship.
Members of the academic delegation, including Professor Nurudeen Raji, Dean of Engineering at LASU; Professor Bankole Yakub, Dean of the College of Engineering at LASUSTECH; Professor Adedeji Kasali of LASU; and Dr. Adekunle Yekini, Head of Mechanical Engineering at LASUSTECH, unanimously commended the initiative.
They noted that specialised training in vehicle component manufacturing and repair is critical to modern engineering education and urged GAC Motors to establish permanent workshops within the university campuses as hubs for innovation and specialised skills development.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Mr. Adeniran Kasali, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to student competency and workforce development, describing industry-academia partnerships as vital to driving innovation in the Nigerian automotive landscape.
The proposed collaboration represents a significant step in Lagos State’s efforts to bridge the skills gap between tertiary education and the practical demands of the labour market.
