By Abbas Nazil
Cross River State Government has commenced a six-month training programme for 1,000 youths in electric vehicle repairs, maintenance and assembly to create employment opportunities and develop technical expertise in the emerging green mobility sector.
The initiative, launched in Calabar on Wednesday, is being implemented through the Cross River State Youth Empowerment Scheme (CR-YES), in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education and Shema Energy Limited.
The programme is designed to equip participants with practical skills needed to maintain electric vehicles, diagnose technical faults and support the growing adoption of cleaner transportation technologies in the state.
Chairman of CR-YES, Dr Kalita Joseph Aruku, said the training was a strategic investment in youth empowerment and technological development, reflecting Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s commitment to preparing young people for emerging industries.
Aruku explained that the state government had procured an environmentally friendly fleet comprising 10 electric buses with 50-seat capacity, 20 electric buses with 14-seat capacity, 100 electric sedan cars, 500 electric tricycles and 200 electric motorcycles.
He said the expanding fleet would require trained technicians to handle repairs and maintenance, creating opportunities for young people to secure employment or establish businesses within the electric mobility industry.
According to him, the initiative would enable participants to acquire specialised technical knowledge and become part of the workforce supporting the development of electric transportation in Cross River State.
Aruku commended President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Education and Shema Energy Limited for supporting the programme, while urging beneficiaries to demonstrate discipline, commitment and dedication throughout the training period.
Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Patrick Egbede, said the state government was investing in skills development to help young people secure sustainable livelihoods and respond to changing labour market demands.
He cited previous empowerment initiatives in agriculture and information and communication technology as examples of efforts to improve the employability of young people.
Egbede referred to an agricultural training programme involving 400 beneficiaries in Nasarawa State, who subsequently received ₦2 million each to invest in their businesses.
He also highlighted ICT training covering cybersecurity, frontend development, product design, business development and artificial intelligence, explaining that the duration of one programme was extended from three to five months following requests from prospective employers for participants to gain deeper practical knowledge.
The commissioner added that many beneficiaries of earlier initiatives had secured employment with the Federal Government.
He further disclosed that a new artificial intelligence training programme had commenced, with 250 participants expected to be trained in each of Cross River State’s three senatorial districts.
Egbede urged Shema Energy Limited to emphasise practical assessments during the electric vehicle training, noting that some participants might demonstrate their abilities more effectively through hands-on tasks than written examinations.
He said successful participants would receive certificates that could improve their employment prospects locally and internationally, particularly as demand for specialised technical skills grows alongside the transition towards electric mobility.
Head of Skills and Strategy at Shema Energy Limited, Prince Dominic Usi, said the programme would provide participants with practical experience in a rapidly developing technological field.
Usi explained that the training would consist of three months of intensive instruction and practical learning, followed by another three months of specialised training.
He added that participants would receive stipends subject to applicable attendance requirements.
To ensure participation and monitor progress, biometric systems would be used to record attendance, while instructional materials would be made available through an online portal containing different training modules.
Participants would also be required to complete practical exercises on electric vehicles and upload video evidence of their work for assessment before advancing to subsequent modules.
Usi identified diagnostics and mechatronics as important components of the programme, explaining that trainees would learn how to identify faults in electric vehicles and tricycles, troubleshoot technical problems and acquire relevant assembly skills.
He urged participants to comply with attendance requirements, including completing the prescribed clock-in procedures before 9 a.m.
Training centre managers would also support participants at designated locations in Calabar Municipality and Ogoja.
The initiative comes as electric mobility gains attention as an alternative to conventional fossil-fuel-powered transportation, creating demand for technicians capable of servicing electric vehicles and their associated systems.
Developing local expertise in repairs, maintenance and assembly could help reduce dependence on external technical services while creating opportunities for youth-led enterprises and specialised employment.
However, the programme’s long-term impact will depend on the quality of practical training, access to equipment and spare parts, and the availability of employment and business opportunities after graduation.
The state government expects the initiative to strengthen its technical workforce, support cleaner transportation and expand economic opportunities for young people under Governor Otu’s People First agenda.
