Cross River to train 1,000 youths on electric vehicle repairs, maintenance
The Cross River Government says it is partnering with the Federal Government to train 1,000 persons in electric vehicle repairs, maintenance, recycling and related technical services.
Dr Kalita Aruku, Chairman of the Cross River State Youth Empowerment Scheme, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Wednesday.
Aruku said the initiative was designed to develop the manpower required to support the growing adoption of electric vehicles and prepare young people for the future of mobility.
The government, which initially secured approval to train 100 persons, said the number was increased to 1,000 following the high demand for skills in the emerging electric vehicle sector.
He said the beneficiaries would undergo six months of training and receive stipends from the Federal Government throughout the training period.
According to him, the government would also provide facilities to support the training, while efforts would be made to link successful trainees with employment opportunities after completion.
He said the beneficiaries were selected from over 5000 applicants across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.
He added that the selection process was done in such a way as to ensure equitable representation across the council areas.
He, however, said that priority was given to applicants with backgrounds or knowledge in engineering, automobile mechanics, electronics, and related technical fields.
The government explained that the criteria were intended to ensure that beneficiaries with some technical foundation would be able to adapt quickly to the specialised requirements of electric vehicle technology.
On infrastructure for the programme, Aruku said training centres were being identified, including facilities in Calabar, while plans were underway to establish a dedicated workshop for electric vehicles.
The proposed workshop, Aruku said, would also help maintain the growing fleet of electric vehicles acquired by the state government.
He said the government has invested in electric mobility already, including about 500 electric tricycles, 200 electric motorcycles, 10 units of 50-seater electric buses, 20 units of 14-seater electric buses, and about 100 electric saloon cars.
The chairman said some of the vehicles had already been deployed across the state, adding that the investment underscored the administration’s commitment to positioning Cross River for the transition to cleaner and more sustainable transportation.
Aruku said the training programme would, therefore, not only create employment opportunities but also build the technical ecosystem needed to sustain the state’s investment in electric mobility.
It added that the initiative would enable Cross River to take the lead in developing the workforce required for the emerging electric vehicle industry.
BRANDECONOMY Insight
The plan by the Cross River Government to train 1,000 persons in electric vehicle repairs, maintenance, recycling and related technical services is a laudable one. It is however hoped that the government would breathe life into this project very shortly. Too often various governments make proclamations without following through with execution. The benefits of developing a pool of technically savvy professionals in the modern auto industry stands to benefit not just the state but the country at large.
