Abuja: The Federal Government is boosting Nigeria’s automotive sector through competency-based training to produce certified quality assurance assessors under the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF). The Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Joseph Osanipin, represented by his Director, Industrial Infrastructure, Dr. Nua Omisanya, made this announcement at the official closing of a two-week Quality Assurance Assessors Training for National Skills Qualifications (NSQs) in the Automotive Industry organized for 30 participants in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event was organized in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). The director-general stated that the initiative aims to equip trainers who will ensure that automotive technicians across the country meet nationally approved skill standards. The training focuses on areas such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion, maintenance of Electric Vehicles (EVs), and modern diagnostic techniques.
‘These are the new innovations in Nigeria’s automotive industry and we need more learners to be trained so that vehicles on our roads will be well-managed and well-maintained,’ Osanipin remarked. Before the training, the industry had only 15 assessors, but the ongoing programme will add 30 more, raising the number to 45. This expansion is expected to help meet the skills gap in the auto industry. Participants were drawn from all six geopolitical zones, representing state coordinators, industry players, and assembly plants.
He further explained that the assessors will train and evaluate learners on quality assurance and competency while on the job, ensuring standardized practices rather than the trial and error approach common in the past. ‘With this system, maintenance of emerging technologies like CNG and electric vehicles will follow standard procedures,’ he added.
The Lead Facilitator of the programme, Mr. Olubode Majiyagbe, reiterated the importance of the training to the sector and the country at large. Majiyagbe highlighted that before now, training across various sectors, including automotive, lacked uniform standards. However, the NSQF would ensure both national and internationally recognized qualifications.
The training spans three to four months and is divided into phases. ‘The first phase, a two-week in-class activity, is being concluded, after which participants will proceed to fieldwork for eight to twelve weeks before returning to complete the programme. Successful participants will be awarded the Quality Assurance Assessor qualification,’ he said. He commended the NADDC boss for introducing the framework to the automotive sector and urged participants to take the training seriously and become advocates for its adoption nationwide.
Executive Governor for the 2025 Class, Mrs. Joke Onireti, mentioned that the training would eliminate ‘trial and error’ practices among mechanics by ensuring that they specialize in specific areas of vehicle maintenance. ‘You either know your job or you do not. If you are trained in periodic maintenance, you should specialize and excel in it, rather than being a jack of all trades,’ she stated. Onireti explained that assessors would evaluate mechanics’ skills in their chosen areas, identify strengths, and guide further training where necessary.
One of the participants, Mrs. Divine Isi of Floritech Motors, Warri, Delta State, described the training as impactful. Despite her nearly two decades of experience in the automotive industry, she stated that the training had significantly expanded her knowledge and expressed gratitude to NADDC for the opportunity. Another participant, Mr. Tunde Onakoya, of Autoclinic Academy, Ibadan, also lauded NADDC and the National Board for Technical Education for the initiative. He emphasized that the programme would raise the capacity and skills of workers in the automotive industry, enabling them to compete globally.
Participants commended the facilitators for their expertise and pledged to become advocates for the framework across the country. They also expressed optimism that the initiative would enhance job creation, improve service quality, and position Nigeria as a competitive player in Africa’s auto industry.
