The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has launched a free Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicle conversion training programme for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, urging them to seize opportunities in Nigeria’s growing clean mobility industry. The initiative, which began at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Lagos on Monday, has attracted hundreds of corps members seeking practical skills and business prospects.
NADDC Launches Free CNG Training for NYSC Members
The training is being implemented under the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programme. It is designed to provide participants with hands-on skills required to convert petrol-powered vehicles to run on CNG. The programme covers CNG components, installation techniques, fuel-system integration, electrical and electronic connections, leak detection, testing, calibration, diagnostics, and vehicle maintenance.
NADDC’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph Osanipin, represented at the event by Ikechukwu Okoha, Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations, said the programme goes beyond issuing certificates. He explained that the goal is to develop competent automotive technicians and entrepreneurs who can play a meaningful role in Nigeria’s expanding CNG ecosystem.
Training Aims to Produce Skilled Technicians and Entrepreneurs
Osanipin emphasised the importance of safety, cautioning participants against carrying out conversion work until they have acquired the required technical competence. The training is structured to ensure that corps members gain both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, preparing them for careers in the CNG sector.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives, Dr Titilope Gbadamosi, also encouraged the corps members to take advantage of the Federal Government’s CNG conversion programme. She said the initiative could open up substantial employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young Nigerians as demand for cleaner and more affordable vehicle fuel options grows.
Free Certification and One-Year Practical Experience Offered
Gbadamosi disclosed that Osanipin had pledged to certify, at no cost, corps members who are prepared to establish their own CNG conversion workshops. She said the move would help reduce the financial and technical barriers facing young people seeking to enter the sector. Additionally, after completing their orientation programme, young engineers would be posted to accredited CNG conversion centres for a year of practical training.
Gbadamosi urged the participants to take the opportunity seriously, noting that the skills acquired could serve as a pathway to establishing successful businesses in the emerging clean mobility market. “You can become a billionaire and set up your own workstation,” she told the corps members.
Broader Government CNG Initiatives
Earlier in February 2026, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) launched a six-week CNG conversion training programme for 400 youths across the Niger Delta. In a related development, the Nigerian government has launched a portal that allows youths to access CNG-powered tricycles, popularly known as Keke. The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed that activating the portal follows the government's launch of 2,000 CNG tricycles on October 1, 2024.
These initiatives reflect a broader push to promote clean energy adoption and create economic opportunities for young Nigerians. The NADDC-NYSC training programme is expected to equip participants with the skills needed to thrive in the CNG conversion industry, potentially leading to the establishment of new workshops and businesses across the country.
