CIG Motors has teamed up with the Federal Government to provide training for thousands of young Nigerians in automotive and related technical skills. This initiative is part of the Skills to Wealth (S2W) programme, operating under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and supervised by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
The programme aims to equip 10,000 youths with practical knowledge in auto mechanics, renewable energy, and agriculture. Chief Diana Chen, Chairman of CIG Motors Group, emphasised the importance of investing in Nigeria’s youthful population during the official launch.
Her remarks, delivered by Brigadier General Chukwuemeka Udaya (retd.), highlighted that the programme is designed as a pathway to economic empowerment.
“Our partnership with the government ensures Nigerian youth are not left behind in an era of rapid technological advancement,” Chen said. “We must be bold. We must lead.”
Training sessions are ongoing across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, focusing on hands-on instruction to address the country’s technical skills gap and support the modernisation of the automotive workforce.
The project also includes mentorship and job creation components, targeting a demographic where nearly 70 per cent of the population is under 30 years old.
Chen pointed to the widespread poverty affecting Nigerian children, stating, “Around half of Nigerian children live in multidimensional poverty. This means we cannot wait. Economic prosperity must be built—and it must be inclusive.”
CIG Motors also announced plans to grow its local manufacturing operations with the aim of positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for vehicle innovation and assembly.
At the event, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, discussed the challenges traditional mechanics face due to global shifts toward automation.
“The world is moving toward automation, and the mechanics we see today may struggle to adapt. But this programme eliminates that fear,” he said. “It gives our youth the tools to thrive in a changing world.”
The public-private partnership has been welcomed by policymakers as a model for national development, with CIG Motors playing a role in addressing youth unemployment and industrial development.
As the global economy evolves toward automation and sustainability, Nigeria’s initiative demonstrates its intent to engage actively in Africa’s industrial growth.