Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Fifty Lady Mechanics in Edo State have gotten their certifications after undergoing a specialized training on conversion of PMS (petrol) vehicles to those using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), sponsored by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the Edo State Government and the Lady Mechanic Initiative (LMI).
Founder of the Lady Mechanic Initiative, Engr. Sandra Aguebor, MFR, expressed gratitude for the support and outlined the mission of the initiative, which is to equip women with marketable skills in mechanics and alternative energy conversion, reducing their vulnerability to poverty and social vices.
She stated that it was her passion for the job of a mechanic that enhanced her success, urging the graduates to be committed to achieving success.
Eng. Sandra Aguebor, MFR, founder of the Lady Mechanic Initiative, explained that the goal of the program is to equip women with vocational skills in mechanics and CNG conversion, enabling them to become financially independent and reducing the prevalence of social vices among young women.
The Lady Mechanic Initiative, which started in Lagos, has now expanded to 20 states across Nigeria, and continues to grow, offering life-changing opportunities to women and girls from various backgrounds.
The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, while speaking at the occasion underscored the state’s strong commitment to women’s empowerment, emphasizing its recognition as not just a matter of social justice but also “smart economics.”
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Umar Musa Ikhilor lauded the uniqueness of the programme.
According to the governor, “I am very much aware that this conversion of CNG programme is a programme carried out by NADDC and it has done that in about three States, Edo, Ekiti and Imo States.
“But Edo State is very unique because this is the first time that all participants are women. Women trained as mechanics and also done in collaboration with the Lady Mechanic Initiative. So Edo State is setting a standard that will be difficult to beat by any other state.”
“Within our administration’s four-year tenure, there is an approved plan to train and empower 54,000 women, with a quarterly target of empowering 1,000 women, which is why the state recently launched an interest-free loan of N1 billion for female traders and market women”, he said.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, in her address described the occasion as a defining moment in Nigeria’s clean energy transition and a bold step towards dismantling gender stereotypes in technical careers.
In his remarks, NADDC Director General, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, explained why Edo State was chosen for the pilot phase, citing its reputation as home to the highest number of trained female mechanics in Nigeria and its early adoption of CNG technology.