The Innoson Kiara Academy (IKA) and the Nigerian Automotive Technicians Association (NATA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to recruit, train, and employ youths from various states in the South-East.
With the new arrangement, no fewer than 5,000 youths are expected to be trained on vocational skills in the next two years, according to the Chief Executive Officer, Innoson Kiara Academy and Consortium, Mr Endi Ezengwa.
The MoU was the highlight of a stakeholders’ forum hosted by the academy and the Chairman of Innoson Group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, CON, which drew participants from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) as well as public and private higher institutions.
At the ceremony held on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing plant in Nnewi, Anambra State, Ezengwa assured the academy’s commitment to bridging the gap between education and industry, and “creating opportunities for our youth, and driving growth in our community.”
He stated, “We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NATA to train 5,000 unemployed youths in the southeast in the next two years.”
The Chief Executive Officer further said the academy had trained over 5,000 youths since its inception, including 2,500 delivered in partnership with the German government
Ezengwa disclosed that the idea was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Nigeria First policy, which promotes made-in-Nigeria products and Chief Chukwuma’s commitment to youth empowerment through employment generation.
According to him, to achieve the Nigeria-First policy’s target, the country needs skilled people to produce those goods which, he said, would in turn boost the nation’s foreign exchange earnings and create employment.
“This is why our chairman, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, convened the stakeholders meeting to engage Nigerian youths on technical and vocational skills.
“This is because he has a passion for things made in Nigeria”, Ezengwa said.
He explained that the academy was made up of trainers from different components of the company.
“We have a consortium, and some of our members provide employment as well as psychosocial support services. We offer a holistic package on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).”
Beyond automobile maintenance and manufacturing, body vehicle building, welding and fabrication, Chukwuma invited training service providers in other skill areas.
“Some of them are involved in engineering, agriculture and fashion from five south-eastern states”, he said.
He said that Chukwuma promised to employ as many people as possible in the factory and encouraged NATA members to absorb some apprentices.
He regretted that the employment gap in Nigeria’s welding sub-sector was 300,000, saying that well-trained welders could earn up to $5,000 a month in some countries.
“We have heard about Nigerians hiring people from Ghana, Togo and others to do some of the work, like building projects, because our youths lack skills.
“So it’s important that people start taking this matter seriously as technical and vocational education is the way to go and governments should support TVET”, he advised.
The stakeholders forum was preceded on Monday, May 26, by an IKA alumni meeting and interview session, where many of the academy’s graduates successfully gained employment with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, complete with accommodation.