The Director-General, National Aumotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Jelani Aliyu, says investment in automotive design is the panacea for unemployment in Nigeria.
Aliyu disclosed this on Saturday in Owerri during the closing ceremony of a two-week training in automotive design organised by the council in collaboration with Coscharis Technologies Ltd.
He said that the opportunities in automotive design had made it necessary for Nigerian youths to join the league of global players in the sector in order to make a good living.
He congratulated participants in the training and appealed to them to remain part of the innovative process of Nigeria’s automotive industry.
According to him, the NADDC will not fail in its constitutional responsibility of job creation through skills training and engagement of unemployed youths for indigenous production of vehicles.
“Today marks the beginning of a journey to reshape the Nigerian automobile industry and that of the world in general. I charge you to take this seriously.
“We look forward to working with you to further develop the design and automobile industry of our economy,” Aliyu said.
In a goodwill message, the Chief Executive Officer, Coscharis Group, Mr Cosmas Maduka, urged the participants not to relent in pursuing their dreams.
Maduka, who was represented by Mr Clement Nnedu of Solidworks, noted that their perseverance and hard work would be rewarded if they put the skills acquired during the training to effective use.
“You have exerted yourselves in the last two weeks and you must not relent in pursuing your dreams. Put the skills you have acquired to good use and the sky will be your limit,” Maduka said.
Also, the Chairman, Governing Board of NADDC, Sen. Osita Izunaso, pledged the council’s commitment to economic growth through youth emancipation.
Izunaso, who was represented by a member of the board, Mr Lambart Ekewube, thanked the Federal Government for the training and solicited more youth-friendly programmes.
Also, the Director, Research and Development, NADDC, Mr Fidelis Achiv, thanked the participants for their commitment to the training and urged them not to give up on the Nigerian dream.
“The possibility of becoming global players is right in front of you.
“If you cooperate with the council, we will work with you to design vehicle parts and components as well as prototypes,” he said.
One of the participants, Mr Kizito Ugwueze, expressed delight for the opportunity to learn more and pledged to put the acquired skills to best use.
