Corps members applaud FG, NADDC over CNG retrofitting training

Youth corps members in Abuja, Lagos and Enugu have applauded the Federal Government and the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) for introducing technical capacity-building training in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle conversion and retrofitting.

The programme, implemented by the NADDC in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) under its Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) initiative, is aimed at building a skilled workforce capable of supporting Nigeria’s transition to CNG-powered transportation.

The training equips corps members with practical competencies in CNG vehicle conversion, retrofitting, vehicle diagnostics and related automotive technologies, while creating opportunities for them to establish sustainable livelihoods after their service year.

The programme was held in Abuja on 11 August, Lagos on 17 August and Enugu on 18 August 2026, with corps members drawn from relevant engineering and technical disciplines participating in the capacity-building exercise.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Enugu on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Youth Initiatives, Dr Titi Gbadamosi, said the initiative was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to prepare young Nigerians for emerging opportunities in the alternative-energy sector.

Gbadamosi described the NYSC programme as a critical transition between formal education and the wider world of work, stressing the need to equip corps members with practical and marketable skills before completing their service.

“It gives me pleasure to be among you today. The Enugu State camp is one of the most coordinated camps I have visited.

“The NYSC is a transition phase between school and the real world. It is our duty to make sure that the transition is not just smooth but perfect. That is why we keep improving on the SAED programme,” she said.

She urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously, noting that the CNG value chain presented significant employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young Nigerians.

According to her, following the removal of fuel subsidy, President Tinubu’s administration had intensified efforts to promote the utilisation of Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources as an alternative transportation fuel.

She said the Federal Government had set a target of converting 100,000 vehicles to CNG annually, adding that achieving the target would create demand for trained technicians, conversion specialists and entrepreneurs.

“That is why we thought that we should also introduce CNG conversion into the SAED programme. These young Nigerians were selected from different fields of engineering.

“If you take this seriously, you are the future of the energy space in Nigeria. Your training will continue all year long so that, as you end your service, you will be a certified CNG converter,” Gbadamosi said.

She added that the initiative underscored the President’s commitment to equipping young Nigerians with practical skills capable of translating into sustainable livelihoods.

Representing the Director-General of the NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, at the event, the Council’s Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Okoha, reaffirmed NADDC’s commitment to the success and sustainability of the programme.

Okoha urged the beneficiaries to pay close attention to both the theoretical and practical components of the training, stressing that hands-on technical competence was essential to succeeding in the CNG conversion business.

“This is a laudable project of the Federal Government. I urge all the beneficiaries to pay attention throughout the training programme. The practical knowledge is very important.

“Those of you who are able to establish a conversion centre after your service year, the NADDC will give you all the licences you need free of charge. This is an opportunity you must make use of,” he said.

He assured the trainees that the Council would continue to provide the necessary support as they progress from training to certification and eventual establishment of conversion businesses.

The NYSC State Coordinator, Enugu State, Mrs Oluwakemi Awolola, described the initiative as a laudable Federal Government intervention, noting that Enugu was among the pilot states selected for the CNG capacity-building programme.

She urged the corps members to maximise the opportunity by acquiring technical skills that would enable them to become employers of labour rather than job seekers after their service year.

“This is an opportunity for you to develop yourself and build a future so that, at the end of your service, you will not look for jobs.

“You are aware that the price of petrol keeps skyrocketing. You are being trained so that you can train others and help them become self-reliant,” she said.

One of the beneficiaries, Lilian Jamike, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the opportunity, saying the training had exposed her to valuable knowledge about CNG conversion.

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“This is an opportunity given to us by the Federal Government to learn about CNG conversion. After this training, we will be able to train fellow corps members. I have learnt a lot already,” she said.

The programme is expected to continue throughout the corps members’ service year, with beneficiaries receiving additional technical training and practical exposure aimed at preparing them for certification.

At the end of the programme, the beneficiaries are expected to possess the requisite competencies to participate in Nigeria’s expanding CNG conversion ecosystem and potentially establish their own conversion centres after completing their national service.