Innoson, NATA Sign Groundbreaking Deal to Train and Employ 5,000 South-East Youths in Vocational Skills

 

A new chapter in youth empowerment and technical education has opened in Nigeria’s South-East, following the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Innoson Kiara Academy (IKA) and the Nigerian Automotive Technicians Association (NATA). The agreement sets a clear target: train and employ no fewer than 5,000 youths in key vocational and technical skills within the next two years.

At the heart of this landmark partnership is a shared vision to narrow the widening gap between academia and industry, while simultaneously tackling the mounting unemployment crisis among Nigeria’s youth population. The formal signing of the MoU took place on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) plant in Nnewi, Anambra State. The event brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), public and private tertiary institutions, and major industry leaders.

Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Kiara Academy and Consortium, Mr. Endi Ezengwa, expressed optimism about the ripple effects of the initiative, describing it as a powerful mechanism to drive economic growth, increase local production capacity, and contribute to national development. “We are not just training; we are building futures. This partnership will empower thousands of young Nigerians with the skills necessary to thrive in today’s competitive workforce,” he noted.

More than a ceremony, the event signaled a broader movement to push Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) into the national spotlight. The forum, convened by Innoson Group Chairman Chief Innocent Chukwuma, CON, also reflected his deep-seated commitment to homegrown development and industrial self-reliance.

Chief Chukwuma’s passion for “Made in Nigeria” products was a recurring theme throughout the gathering. He reiterated that the nation's progress hinges on equipping its youth with employable skills that align with modern industry demands. According to Ezengwa, this project aligns closely with President Bola Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” economic directive, which advocates for increased production and consumption of local goods as a cornerstone of national policy.

Ezengwa disclosed that IKA has already trained over 5,000 youths since its founding—half of them in collaboration with the German government. Now, the focus is squarely on domestic capacity building. “This is why our chairman convened this stakeholders forum—to unify efforts and show young Nigerians that the future lies in skilled craftsmanship and technical expertise,” he said.

Participants at the forum emphasized that the academy’s training approach goes beyond basic vocational instruction. Through its consortium model, IKA draws trainers from various sectors within Innoson’s ecosystem, ensuring that graduates receive a well-rounded experience that includes practical industrial exposure, psychosocial support, and potential job placement.

The academy offers programs in diverse fields such as automobile manufacturing and repair, vehicle body building, welding and fabrication, engineering, agriculture, and fashion. With active involvement from training service providers across the five states of the South-East, the initiative casts a wide net to accommodate a variety of interests and skills.

Chief Chukwuma also pledged to absorb a significant number of trainees into the Innoson factory’s workforce and urged NATA affiliates to provide apprenticeship opportunities across the region. “It’s time we stopped looking outside for solutions we can create ourselves,” he remarked, challenging Nigerians to embrace local talent development.

Highlighting the urgency of the initiative, Ezengwa pointed to a startling statistic: the welding sub-sector in Nigeria has an employment gap of approximately 300,000 jobs. “It’s shocking that despite such opportunities, many of our youths remain unemployed. A well-trained welder can earn up to $5,000 monthly in some parts of the world. Yet we often rely on artisans from Ghana and Togo for our construction needs,” he observed.

Calls for government support rang out during the event, as speakers urged federal and state authorities to invest in TVET infrastructure and policies. “Vocational education is the bridge between poverty and prosperity,” Ezengwa said, stressing that the future of Nigeria's economy rests on its ability to train, equip, and empower its youth.

On the eve of the stakeholders’ forum, the academy hosted an alumni reunion and job interview session. Several IKA graduates were hired on the spot by Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, with the added bonus of company-provided accommodation.

This initiative marks more than just a collaborative agreement—it represents a bold, structured leap toward equipping Nigeria’s young workforce with the tools they need to build a sustainable and self-reliant future. As the training rolls out, the country will be watching closely to see how this partnership reshapes the employment and industrial landscape in the South-East and beyond.