The nation’s skilled manpower received a boost on Friday in Lagos, with the graduation of 144 auto technicians, including a woman, courtesy of the National Automotive Council (NAC).
The two-week training programme focused on heavy duty trucks maintenance and tyre repairs for auto technicians in Lagos state.
Mr Aminu Jalal, Director-General of NAC, said that the training was meant to close the skill gap of auto mechanics in the repair of modern generation vehicles in Nigeria.
The nation’s skilled manpower received a boost on Friday in Lagos, with the graduation of 144 auto technicians, including a woman, courtesy of the National Automotive Council (NAC).
The two-week training programme focused on heavy duty trucks maintenance and tyre repairs for auto technicians in Lagos state.
Mr Aminu Jalal, Director-General of NAC, said that the training was meant to close the skill gap of auto mechanics in the repair of modern generation vehicles in Nigeria.
Jala, who was represented by Mr Abubakar Dalhat, Special Adviser to the Director General, said that the skill gap analysis conducted in the country showed that majority of the mechanics lack the relevant knowledge about vehicle electrical and electronic components repair.
"Technology in the auto sector advances continually and at a very fast pace. Most cars on our roads today are built with a lot of electronically controlled systems.
"The only way to meet up with this advancement is training and re-training and the council will continue to partner with all stakeholders to ensure our mechanics are up to date," he said.
Jalal said that the gap necessitated the commencement of various re-training programmes for auto mechanics since 2006.
He said that the training was also to reduce the number of road accidents in the country which the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) attributes to wrong choice, use and repair of tyres.
The NAC boss also said that the training would enable participants repair, maintain tyres adequately and advice their clients on the proper purchase and use of tyres.
Jala also said that the programme was to enhance capacity building in line with the approved National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP).
According to him, the training programme was conducted with the assistance of Nigerian Automotive Technicians Association (MOMTAN), the Lady Mechanics Initiative and Association of Auto Workers and Technicians of Nigeria (AAWATON).
Mr Solomon Akinola, a 65-years-old auto technician at Ojota New Garage said, commended NAC for the programme stressing, "this is my first training in my 45 years of been an auto mechanic.
"I had always thought that I knew everything about automobile repair but now I know better. The training has empowered me to serve my customers better."
Also speaking, Mr Muiz Ashaolu, Dean of School of Engineering, Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, said that the training would assist auto technicians to be abreast with latest trends in the world.
He said that the information acquired by the participants of the training would help them contribute their own quota to national development.
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