The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to commence Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) retrofitting training for corps members under the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programme.
The agreement was signed on Friday at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development in Abuja as part of efforts to equip Nigerian youths with practical and enterprise-driven skills in CNG vehicle conversion and maintenance.
A statement explained that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s energy transition agenda and its drive towards sustainable transportation solutions.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director-General of NADDC, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, described the partnership as a significant milestone in advancing Nigeria’s automotive and clean energy ecosystem.
He said the collaboration reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to bridging the growing manpower gap in the emerging CNG sector following the transition to alternative energy solutions.
According to him, NADDC will deploy its technical expertise to develop and implement a world-class CNG retrofitting curriculum specifically designed for corps members with engineering backgrounds.
Osanipin explained that participants would undergo hands-on training and receive industry-relevant certification to prepare them for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities within the automotive and energy sectors.
“The Federal Government’s pivot to Compressed Natural Gas has created an urgent skills gap in the Nigerian workforce, and NADDC is fully committed to addressing that challenge through structured technical training and certification,” he said.
He also appreciated the support of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the NYSC leadership, Pi-CNG and other stakeholders for making the collaboration possible.
The Director-General of NYSC, Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, commended the Federal Government for prioritising youth empowerment through sustainable initiatives.
He assured that the NYSC would provide the necessary institutional support to ensure the successful implementation of the programme nationwide.
Nafiu added that the scheme remains committed to partnerships that create meaningful economic opportunities for corps members while contributing to national growth and development.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives (Monitoring and Delivery), Titilope Gbadamosi, representatives of Pi-CNG, as well as senior officials of NADDC and NYSC.
The three-year partnership is expected to produce a pipeline of trained CNG technicians across the country, strengthen Nigeria’s clean energy transition and boost youth empowerment, employment and entrepreneurship through effective inter-agency collaboration.
