In a landmark development that will revive the automative industry, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okey Enelamah, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Volkswagen Group to develop a joint vision for an automotive hub in the country.
Volkswagen Head of the Sub-Saharan Region, Thomas Schaefer, signed the agreement on behalf of the company over the weekend, it was gathered.
The deal required the German company to undertake the implementation of a phased approach in relation to the assembly of vehicles, initially from assembly kits with the long-term view of establishing Nigeria as an automotive hub on the West Coast of Africa.
This will include establishing a training academy in conjunction with the German government, which will train the initial employees. The academy will also provide broader technical training in automotive skills. It is also intended that a comprehensive Volkswagen vehicle and service network is developed in the country subject to commercial viability.
According to a statement issued by the minister’s Strategy and Communications Adviser, Mr. Bisi Daniels, the MoU includes establishing a training academy in conjunction with the German government, which will train the initial employees.
The academy will also provide broader technical training in automotive skills while a comprehensive Volkswagen vehicle and service network is developed in the country subject to commercial viability.
