Minister Olawande Champions Youth Skills at Innoson Motors Visit

Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, accompanied by Permanent Secretary Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya and other ministry officials, paid an impactful working visit today to the renowned Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) plant in Nnewi, Anambra State. The delegation was warmly welcomed by Chief Innocent Chukwuma (OFR), Chairman and CEO of IVM, whose visionary leadership continues to drive Nigeria’s industrial progress and youth empowerment agenda.

Minister Olawande lauded Innoson’s pioneering efforts in automotive innovation and strategic expansion into compress natural gas (CNG) vehicle production and tractor assembly. Highlighting the company’s vital role in job creation, the Minister emphasized how such industrial growth provides robust opportunities for Nigerian youths, particularly through technical skill acquisition and apprenticeship programs.

During the visit, the Minister engaged directly with young beneficiaries of Innoson’s comprehensive training initiatives, including two remarkable young women who have excelled as professional auto-technicians. Their inspiring success stories underscored the transformative impact of hands-on skills development and practical training in fostering youth self-reliance and entrepreneurship.

As a key outcome of this engagement, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development is establishing a strategic partnership with Innoson to scale up youth training, apprenticeships, and enterprise development nationwide. This collaboration will focus on deepening youth participation in the automotive value chain and allied industries, driving economic empowerment across Nigeria.

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The Minister also met with Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Development, Honourable Patrick Agha Mba, to discuss enhanced federal-state coordination aimed at expanding the “1 Youth, 2 Skills” campaign. Both ministries reaffirmed their shared commitment to equipping young Nigerians with marketable, income-generating skills that foster productivity, independence, and sustainable livelihoods.

This visit marks a significant milestone in efforts to harness Nigeria’s industrial potential through youth empowerment, with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing serving as a flagship model for indigenous innovation, workforce development, and nation-building. Through strengthened partnerships and targeted skill acquisition programs, the Ministry of Youth Development seeks to create a new generation of skilled Nigerian youths poised to lead the country’s economic transformation.