The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has flagged off a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Retrofitting Training Programme for 300 Corps Members, aimed at equipping young Nigerians with technical skills for employment and entrepreneurship in Nigeria’s CNG and clean mobility ecosystem. The programme was launched at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Abuja on August 11, 2026, under the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Honourable Ayodele Olawande, said Nigeria’s transition towards cleaner, cheaper and more sustainable energy under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, would create new industries, businesses and jobs. He stressed the need to equip Corps Members with practical skills, noting that the training goes beyond certificates to skills that can lead to jobs, income and sustainable businesses.

The Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s youth and a demonstration of inter-agency collaboration in developing human capital for cleaner mobility. He noted that skilled technicians and safety professionals are critical to the growth of the CNG sector.

Osanipin urged participating Corps Members to see the training as a pathway to employment and entrepreneurship.

He announced that certification would be provided free of charge to participating Corps Members and encouraged beneficiaries to take the training seriously, adhere to safety requirements and join the skilled workforce needed to drive CNG conversion and clean mobility in Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, described the programme as a step towards youth empowerment. He explained that the pilot phase would cover one state in each of the six geopolitical zones: the Federal Capital Territory, Kano, Adamawa, Lagos, Edo and Enugu.

He stated that Corps Members would receive practical skills in CNG vehicle conversion and maintenance. According to him, the initiative complements the SAED programme by providing specialised skills that can improve Corps Members’ prospects for employment and self-employment beyond their service year.

The programme is being implemented by NADDC and NYSC, with support from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles (PCNGI-EV), and the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives (Monitoring and Delivery), Dr. Titilope Gbadamosi.

The flag-off marks a milestone in connecting youth empowerment with Nigeria’s energy and automotive transition. Through the programme, NADDC provides technical expertise and industry-focused capacity development, while NYSC provides the platform for reaching corps members across the country. (Nigerian Tribune)

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