As part of measure to boost growth of the Nigerian Auto Sector, the Director General, National .Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, on Tuesday, received Engr. Melhem Farah of MEMACO Alliance and Dr. Celestine Okorie of Schutmann Engineering Limited on a courtesy visit to the Council’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to NADDC, the visit marked a significant step toward establishing a Technical Vocational Training Academy (TVTA) focused on electric vehicles (EVs) and a network of advanced service workshops across Nigeria.
The meeting centered on forging a strategic partnership to create a world-class automotive training hub aimed at equipping Nigerian youth with professional, technical, and managerial skills tailored to the needs of the evolving automotive sector.
MEMACO Alliance and Schutmann Engineering Ltd expressed their commitment to developing this initiative, with Schutmann serving as the local project coordinator and additional international partners such as SUNMING Cell and Shenzhen Besita Technical Company Ltd joining the effort.
The proposed TVTA will specialize in hands-on training for automotive design, assembly, development, and maintenance, particularly for electric vehicles. In addition, the plan includes establishing state-of-the-art repair workshops that would serve both as training grounds and public service centers for EV owners.
DG Osanipin welcomed the initiative, highlighting the critical role such a partnership could play in bolstering Nigeria’s skilled workforce and raising industry standards. He noted NADDC’s ongoing efforts in automotive development, particularly through its Automotive Training Centre (ATC) projects, and assured full support for the collaboration. One potential direction discussed is for MEMACO and partners to manage an existing NADDC ATC under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
Both parties agreed to convene further meetings to refine the proposal and identify funding avenues. The successful engagement signals a shared commitment to driving innovation, skills development, and industrial growth in Nigeria’s automotive landscape.
