By Fatima Ndagi
The House of Representatives Committee on Youth in Parliament has endorsed a landmark initiative to train 2,000 Nigerian youths in electric vehicle (EV) maintenance, design, and manufacturing — a move lawmakers say will secure Nigeria’s place in the global green transport revolution.
Committee chairman, Hon. Olamijuwonlo Alao Akala, described the programme as a “historic opportunity for empowerment” while unveiling the partnership between the Youth in Parliament Forum (YIPF) and CAWIN Mobility Limited in Abuja on Wednesday.
“The world is moving into the electric era, and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind,” Akala said. “When EVs arrive in the Nigerian market, we must already have a workforce and infrastructure to service them. The future is electric, and we must train the next generation to lead in this transition.”
The fully-funded training, set to begin September 20, will target 1,000 engineering students and 1,000 mechanics nationwide. YIPF Director General, Tony Nwulu, said applicants can register online at no cost, stressing: “You are not paying one kobo to be trained.”
Nwulu added that the scheme also links to the Lawmakers Car Acquisition Scheme (LCAS), which will make both electric and conventional vehicles available to legislators at subsidised rates with after-sales support. “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to youth empowerment, sustainable mobility, and national development,” he said.
CAWIN Mobility’s Managing Director, Wayne Ji, noted that Nigeria could replicate China’s EV-driven industrial revolution. “These 2,000 youths will be the backbone of Nigeria’s EV workforce, from the garage to the research lab,” he said, pledging further support for charging infrastructure, assembly, and supply chains.
Akala praised the initiative as a “purposeful partnership” that will position Nigerian youths at the forefront of clean energy mobility, adding: “This is about the future of our country, and we are determined to get it right.”