National Telescope national telescope newspaper
Chibuzor
The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has kicked off a training program aimed at equipping technicians and youths in Ondo State with skills in automotive mechatronics, focusing on the repair and maintenance of new-generation vehicles.
The training, which commenced on Tuesday, is being held in collaboration with the Ondo State Government.
During the specialized mechatronics and heavy-duty vehicle training for technicians and youths in the South-West region, the Director General of NADDC, Mr. Oluwemimo Osanipin, emphasized the importance of this initiative.
He stated that the training is crucial for the automobile industry, providing technicians with the necessary knowledge to address the challenges posed by modern heavy-duty vehicles, which are increasingly electronic rather than mechanical.
He remarked, “Today marks another milestone in our automotive industry because this training is strategically designed to ensure the required skills upgrade and capacity building for auto technicians and youths.
This is to enable them to cope with the task of repairs and maintenance of modern generation vehicles which has become a serious challenge.”
Furthermore, he highlighted the recent concerns of the Federal Government regarding the rise in road traffic accidents involving tankers, trailers, and other heavy-duty vehicles, particularly recent incidents in Niger and Enugu States that resulted in loss of life and property.
The Government has called on all stakeholders to find solutions to these pressing issues.
Mr. Osanipin explained, “Today, heavy-duty vehicles are operated on the principle of compression ignition engines.
This then entails that our mechanics or technicians who work on these vehicles should be equipped with the requisite technical skills and knowledge to handle the challenges posed by modern heavy-duty vehicles which are more electronic than mechanical (mechatronics).”
The specialized mechatronics training is scheduled to last for two weeks and will take place in three locations: Calabar (Cross-River State), Umuahia (Abia State), and Akure (Ondo State).
The heavy-duty vehicle training will be conducted in Yola (Adamawa State) and Kaduna (Kaduna State).
The program aims to actively engage trainees through various learning outcomes/modules, including diesel engine electronics, computerized diesel engine diagnosis using various diagnostic tools and equipment, as well as business management and entrepreneurship training, according to the DG.
While inaugurating the training, the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Segun Omojuwa, expressed his administration’s commitment to creating job opportunities for youths.
He stated, “This is a good collaboration between the Federal Government and the state and we are happy to partner and ensure that our youths are employed.
We want to plead with you to sustain this platform so that more of our people are beneficiaries.”
