The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA) have appealed to the Federal Government to support its technical education on automotive policy.
Mrs Helen Jemerigbe, Chairperson, Technical Skills `Development Programme told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the support was necessary for the growth of the sector.
Jemerigbe said that the programme trains technicians on vehicle maintenance, building of spare parts and other related services.
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA) have appealed to the Federal Government to support its technical education on automotive policy.
Mrs Helen Jemerigbe, Chairperson, Technical Skills `Development Programme told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the support was necessary for the growth of the sector.
Jemerigbe said that the programme trains technicians on vehicle maintenance, building of spare parts and other related services.
NAN reports that the Technical Skills Development Programme is the brainchild of ITF and NECA.
The automotive policy was introduced by the Federal Government in October 2013 to discourage car importation and encourage local manufacturing of cars.
Jemerigbe said that there was need to have a sustainable training centre for automotive maintenance, poultry farming and other areas to grow the economy.
“This is what we believe will make the automotive policy work better and we are urging the new administration to partner with us on this cause.
“If we produce our own cars, we need people who will do the mirrors, bumpers, and other spare parts.
“This will go a long way in creating jobs in the value chain.
“The training centre will attract foreign investors like NISSAN and Toyota to establish their plants here.
“If we don’t train our technicians, we are only telling foreign investors to come with theirs,” she said.
Jemerigbe added that the centre assists its graduates to start their own businesses.
“We also have a programme where we give grants to technicians to establish their businesses, but most of the loans have not been well accounted for.
“So what we do now is ask the graduate technician to source for a loan and thereafter we monitor.
“If the business is progressing, we can now ask the business owner to apply for an expansion loan,” she said.
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