Director General of National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, has challenged Nigerian youth to take advantage of the various youth initiative programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu especially the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative to better their lives.
Osanipin stated this Thursday at a two days Youth summit on, “Harnessing Youth Potentials and Career Prospects within the Nigerian Automotive Sector,” organized by NADDC in collaboration with the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives, Monitoring and Delivering.
The DG charged the youths to develop their capacity in various value chain of the CNG in order to be relevant and to tap into opportunities in the sector.
He said as part of its capacity building Initiatives, the agency will next week commence training of youths on various skills sets within the various CNG value chain across the country.
According to him, “The essence of this gathering is to learn the various value chain of CNG so that you know where you fit in.
“By the time you understand the part you want to play in, then it would be easier for you to access Bank of Industry to access loan.
“We are going to commence training of youths on different value chain of CNG nationwide. We shall be moving from state to state working with our stakeholders to train youths free of charge.
“The Presidential CNG Initiative will provide kits that we will be using for the training free of charge.
“We need to key into the process because we can manufacture those kits. If you cannot manufacture, you can convert . If you cannot convert, you can provide the cylinder.
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He said the agency and its partners are emphasing on CNG as means of powering our economy because it is far cheaper and safer.
“It is also good for our climate and the environment. The emission of CNG is far low compare to what we have with PMS or diesel.
“CNG has a lot of advantages when we talk about the economy and the environment,” he said.
He disclosed that under his watch, the agency using its inhouse engineers develop an application that guide the youth, technicians, investors, policy and all those who are interested in CNG to tap into the opportunities in the CNG value chain.
Speaking further, he said that the agency is partnering with relevant government agencies like Bank of Industry, NASENI, Standard Organization if Nigeria and private sector to open up the potential of the sector.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives, Monitoring, and Delivery, Titilope Gbadamosi, said the aim of the gathering was to explore and harness the boundless potentials that abound in the youths within the automotive sector, with a specific focus in the opportunity available within the compressed natural gas conversion value chain.
She lauded the president’s foresight in the CNG value chain and believe in the youth to drive the process.
“As we gather today, we do so under the vision and leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is unwavering in his commitment to empowering the youth in Nigeria.
“The president believes strongly that the future of our great nation lies the capabilities of our youths.
“It is for this reason that on the 19 of August 2023 President Tinubu launched the CNG Initiative. A pivotal programme design to mitigate the effects of petrol subsidy removal by providing more affordable and sustainable energy alternative,” she said.
Speaking on the opportunities in the CNG value chain she said, “The conversation to CNG is not just an environmental imperative but it represents a significant opportunity for job creation, skills development and innovation among our youth.”
On his part, Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, encouraged the youth to be agents of nation building grabbing laudable youth oriented initiatives of the Tinubu administration instead complaining about the temporary challenges that the country is passing through.
“It the right time we speak truth to ourselves in the language that we understand. As youths, it is high time we started grabbing various initiatives of the government especially the opportunities that abound in the compressed natural gas programmes,” he said .
The minister said nation building is a process, urging the youths to channel their energy to productive ventures.
He said, “It is not day we we were given birth to that we started talking. Rome was not built in a day. The times maybe hard and tough, but i can assure that we are coming out stronger because the Nigerian youths are the the most proactive in the world.
“The fact is that we are resilient and have the can do spirit. The youths are achieving great fears in sports, entertainment, tech and education.
“Please let us join and build a nation that we can all be proud of. It is time to hit the road running, enough of roadmap.”
During the event, Engr. Folajimi Mohammed, CEO of Portland Gas, offered an immediate job opportunity to Mr. Oke-Aare Tomiwa, one of the conference participants.
This gesture highlighted the conference’s impact on creating career opportunities for youth in the automotive sector.