By Femi Akinola
The Federal Government has embarked on training Nigerian youths on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion system, to prepare them for the existing opportunities in the auto industry.
The Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives, Titilope Gbadamosi, and the Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, gave the hint during a two-day event tagged ”Harnessing Youth Potentials and Career Prospects in the Nigerian Automotive Sector with a Focus on the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion Value Chain,” which took place at the Yar ‘Adua Centre, Abuja.
The event focused on the environmental and economic advantages of CNG tecnology, including reduce emissions, lower environmental impact, and cost savings.
Keynote addresses were delivered by notable individuals such as the former Minister of Youths and Sports; Sunday Dare, Minister of State for Youth Development, Engr. Ayo Olawande, and the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, and as well the Director General NADDC, Joseph Osanipin.
Speakers at the two-day event underscored the importance of robust regulatory frameworks to ensure safety, quality, and reliability in CNG conversions.
They also highlighted career paths in vehicle conversions, cylinder installation, fuelling station development, and supply chain management. They presented CNG as a promising sector for entrepreneurship and employment.
On the final day of the event, the technical sessions was led by industry experts who explored the role of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in developing and enforcing standards in the CNG conversion.
The address emphasised the need for collaboration between educational institutions, industry stakeholders, and government agencies to keep young professionals updated with the ltest CNG technologies.
In her remarks at the event, the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives, Rt. Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, reassured her office’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerian youths are well prepared for the growing CNG industry.
She said with appropriate training, adherence to regulatory standards, and sector-wide collaboration, Nigeria’s transition to CNG could reduce reliance on imported fuels and create sustainable economic opportunities for the nation’s youth.
