The Federal Government has hailed the graduation of 50 women from a specialised training in vehicle conversion from petrol to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), calling it a landmark moment in Nigeria’s clean energy transition and gender empowerment agenda.
Speaking at the event held in Benin City, Edo State, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described the achievement as a bold leap toward dismantling long-held gender stereotypes in technical vocations.
“This is not just a graduation. It is a declaration of what’s possible when bold policies meet brave women,” the minister said. “These women are trailblazers, proof that the Renewed Hope Agenda is making tangible impact.”
The 50 graduates were trained under the Lady Mechanic Initiative (LMI), a pioneering programme founded by Nigeria’s first female mechanic, Sandra Aguebor, with support from the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the Edo State Government.
So far, over 1,500 women across the country have been trained as auto mechanics through various interventions, with a growing focus on CNG conversion—one of the federal government’s key strategies for reducing dependency on petrol and slashing transport emissions.
Aguebor, speaking at the graduation themed “CNG Conversion: A New Horizon for Women in the Automotive Industry”, noted that the training positions women as critical manpower for Nigeria’s energy transition.
“CNG is affordable, cleaner, and increasingly accessible. Our women mechanics in Edo now have the skills to drive this transformation forward,” she said.
She emphasised that the Lady Mechanic Initiative operates in over 20 states with certified coordinators, and that the programme aims to economically empower women and vulnerable girls through skills, mentorship, and counselling.
Governor Monday Okpebholo, represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Musa Ikhilor, lauded the programme, calling it “smart economics” and a strong statement of the state’s commitment to gender inclusion.
“This is more than training; it is a future-defining intervention. Empowering women in the energy and automotive sector benefits families, communities, and our national economy,” he said.
The NADDC, Edo State Government, and LMI are jointly implementing the CNG training initiative, which has also been replicated in Ekiti and Imo States, positioning more women for active participation in Nigeria’s evolving energy landscape.
