- Lagos Govt Moves to Bridge Skills Gap with GAC Motors–University Partnership
- Mr Tolani Sule said the partnership was designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry demands
- Akinwade revealed that outstanding students and academic staff would be considered for integration into the LAGBUS maintenance and ownership scheme
The Lagos State Government has commenced plans to partner with automobile manufacturer, GAC Motors, to provide hands-on technical training for engineering students of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the proposed collaboration was initiated during a tripartite meeting held on Tuesday at the Alausa Secretariat, involving officials of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, representatives of GAC Motors, and senior academic leaders from both state-owned universities.
EDITOR’S PICK
- FRS Redeploys Senior Officers Nationwide to Strengthen Operations
- 2026 BECE Registration Begins as Lagos Moves Process Online
- Lagos Lawmakers Justify Demolition of Illegal Structures in Makoko, Oworonsoki
Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr Tolani Sule, said the partnership was designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry demands by embedding practical, industry-based skills into the universities’ engineering curricula.
According to him, the initiative will focus on vehicle assembly, advanced maintenance, servicing and workshop-based training, with the aim of improving employability and creating job opportunities for engineering graduates across the state.
“Our objective is to produce graduates who combine strong theoretical foundations with relevant practical experience,” Sule said, adding that the collaboration would help students become self-reliant, innovative and competitive in the global labour market.
The commissioner noted that while the state’s tertiary institutions already possess modern laboratories and qualified lecturers, the partnership must be structured in a way that benefits the students, GAC Motors and the Nigerian automobile industry as a whole.
On his part, a representative of GAC Motors, Mr Wale Akinwade, reaffirmed the company’s long-standing business relationship with the Lagos State Government, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in youth development and capacity building.
He disclosed that the programme would expose students to practical training opportunities both within Nigeria and abroad, while also offering pathways for economic empowerment.
Akinwade further revealed that outstanding students and academic staff would be considered for integration into the LAGBUS maintenance and ownership scheme, providing participants with direct access to entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.
Members of the academic delegation, including the Dean of Engineering at LASU, Prof. Nurudeen Raji; Dean of the College of Engineering, LASUSTECH, Prof. Bankole Yakub; Prof. Adedeji Kasali of LASU; and Dr Adekunle Yekini, Head of Mechanical Engineering at LASUSTECH, commended the initiative.
They stressed that specialised training in vehicle component manufacturing, diagnostics and repair is critical to modern engineering education, urging GAC Motors to establish dedicated training workshops within the university campuses.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Mr Adeniran Kasali, said the partnership aligns with the state’s policy of prioritising student competence and industry relevance, noting that such collaborations are vital to building a skilled workforce for Nigeria’s automotive sector.
He added that the initiative represents a significant step towards closing the skills gap between tertiary education and labour market requirements in Lagos State.
