Nigeria opens new auto training center in Lagos to drive electric vehicle growth

Nigeria has opened a new automotive training center in Ikorodu, Lagos, to prepare its workforce for the future of electric vehicles and boost local car production.

The center, located at Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), is part of the Federal Government’s plan to raise local content in vehicles to 40% and make electric cars 30% of new production.

“This is more than training. It is about giving our young people the skills to compete globally,” said Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh, at the inauguration on Monday. He said the project would also help reduce unemployment, transfer advanced technology, and create a pipeline of skilled workers for Nigeria’s automotive sector.

The Lagos facility is one of 21 auto training centers being established nationwide to ensure fair access to modern automotive education. Officials say more centers will be rolled out in coming years.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu called the auto industry “the bedrock of industrial growth” and said the new facility would expose students to advanced diagnostic tools and global service standards. “It rests on three pillars—skills for industry, public safety, and job creation,” he added.

NADDC Director-General Oluwemimo Osanipin said the center fits into Nigeria’s National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), which aims to encourage more Nigerian-assembled vehicles and attract global automakers. “We want made-in-Nigeria vehicles that meet global standards,” Osanipin said.

Vice-Chancellor of LASUSTECH, Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya, said the university was proud to host the project. He said it would allow students to move from concept design to prototyping and commercialisation, advancing the institution’s “IMPACT agenda” for innovation and competitiveness.

Analysts say the move could help Nigeria reduce its dependence on imports. The country spends billions annually on imported cars, while unemployment hovers above 30%. By skilling youths and technicians, the center could offer a pathway to industrial revival and economic inclusion.

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Nigeria opens new auto training center in Lagos to power electric vehicle future