The Nigerian Gov’t through its Small and Medium agency, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), is about to establish world-class auto-mechanic business clusters fully equipped with modern technologies.
In a statement by the Agency’s Assistant Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr Levi Anyikwa he noted that the project is expected to employ hundreds of thousands of male and female technicians in auto repairs and maintenance across the country.
According to him this is a joint project between the National Automotive Council (NAC), the Lady Mechanic Initiative (LMI) and other stake-holders and that SMEDAN would make available some of its Industrial Development Centres (IDCs) scattered across the country, provide entrepreneurship training, access to working capital and mentoring services to the prospective beneficiaries.
Anyika said in return the National Automotive Council (NAC) and the Lady Mechanic Initiative (LMI) which already have some strategic sponsors and partners, are expected to provide the qualitative technical training to existing and prospective auto mechanics using ultra-modern technologies and facilitating the procurement of start-up technologies for the trainees.
“Expected to be part of the collaboration are organizations such as: Nigerian Bottling Company Plc, MTN Foundation, Peugeot, Tata, Honda, Mitsubishi and Global Fund for Women. Others are Toyota Nigeria, RT Briscoe, Mandillas, Coscharis Group, CFAO, and Sandex Car Care Ltd,” he stated.
He noted that Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), State Governments, Foreign Embassies in Nigeria, Development Finance Institutions, Business Membership Organizations and Trade Association will also be partners to the project.
Speaking while receiving in his office the Founder/Executive Director, of Lady Mechanic Initiative (LMI), Engr. Sandra Aguebor-Ekperuoh, who paid him a courtesy call, the Director-General of SMEDAN, Muhammad Nadada Umar, noted that for small and medium enterprises to achieve their optimal potentials in Nigeria, technological advancement must be embraced to full capacity.