The Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has approved the training of 100 young men and women in Automobile Technology at an indigenous car manufacturing company, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Group, as part of its skills acquisition programme in a collaborative effort to boost human capacity development in the region.
This was made known by the Chairman of the Board, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, when he led a delegation from NDDC to visit the Innoson factory at Nnewi, Anambra State.
A statement signed by the Director Corporate Affairs, Ibitoye Abosede, and made available to The Tide, yesterday, quoted Ndoma-Egba as affirming that the NDDC Board had in its first meeting this year approved a visit to the factory and the Innoson Kiara Academy, a Technical and Vocational Institution established by an international consulting firm in partnership with Innoson Group, for training in different aspects of Automobile Maintenance.
He said that NDDC would soon select 100 young men and women from the region to undergo the training to boost their skills, stressing the importance of manpower development.
Ndoma-Egba commended the Chairman of Innoson Group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, for his faith and belief in Nigeria, adding: “We are highly impressed with what you have done. It is not just the facilities but the spirit behind what you have done. If we have a few more Nigerians with your level of belief in this country, we will be better off. Citing this massive investment in your community is a mark of faith not just in your people but also in your country.
The NDDC chairman stated that the commission was interested in training Niger Delta youth, just like the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which was already sponsoring the training of 200 students at the Innoson Academy.
He assured that NDDC would support Innoson Motors, wondering why governments at different levels would not patronise locally-manufactured or assembled vehicles.
“That is the only way we can encourage our local industries. So, NDDC will be at the vanguard of this effort,” he pledged.
The Executive Chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, Chief Innocent Chukwuma said that the kind remarks by the NDDC chairman would energise and encourage his company to put in more efforts in the quest to industrialise Nigeria.
He declared: “We intend to open small factories in different parts of the Niger Delta to among other things, employ those who have successfully gone through our trainings. I have challenged the trainees to put in their best efforts because Innoson will offer them automatic employment in our factories.”

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana