The Honourable Member representing Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, Hon. David Ogada Ogewu, has called for collaboration between the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and Benue State to empower youths through technical skills acquisition and vocational training. During a visit to NADDC’s Director-General, Mr. Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, on August 5, 2025, Hon. Ogewu expressed appreciation for NADDC’s impactful training initiatives aimed at equipping young Nigerians with practical skills for self-reliance.

Hon. Ogewu emphasized that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on restoring hope among Nigerian youth. He requested inclusion of Benue State in NADDC’s upcoming training programs, particularly ahead of the New Yam Festival in September, to empower youths in his constituency and beyond.

NADDC Director-General Mr. Osanipin welcomed the collaboration, noting scheduled training programs in motorcycle and tricycle maintenance, mechatronics, and heavy-duty vehicle maintenance, including retrofitting to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). “We’ll assess needs and work closely with your team to implement training in Benue State, possibly by September,” he said.

This partnership between NADDC and Benue State promises a transformative youth empowerment strategy with potential for national replication, aiming to reduce unemployment and crime by providing pathways to independence for young people.