Ogun State Government and the National Automobile Technicians Association of Nigeria (NATA), have concluded arrangements to ensure that technicians in the automobile industry get government certificates, as a means to give them recognition and standardise their skills.

          This was brought to the fore during a courtesy visit of NATA delegates to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical and Vocational Education, Prof. Joseph Odemuyiwa, at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

          Speaking, Prof. Odemuyiwa pointed out that the move was to expose technicians to practical aspects of trade subjects, saying automobile technology was evolving, as it was imperative to widen the scope of knowledge of trainees in the informal sector.

          The Governor’s aide reiterated that the accredited workshops would be linked to both technical and secondary schools, saying the National Policy on Education, revised 2004 (NPE) had introduced trade subjects into the secondary school curriculum, adding that technical students would be posted to all the certified workshops for an internship.

          He said, ‘’we don't want our technicians in the automobile industry to be looked down upon by anybody, you are not second fiddle, you are first set, so we want a situation where you will train people in your workshop, and you will give them certificates, so that whoever is registering to be mechanics, rewire, painter, among others, will be issued government certificate, those outside and in the classroom will have a common certificate".

          Prof. Odemuyiwa appealed to NATA to support the government in its revitalisation drive towards enhancing practical teaching and learning of trade subjects across board, and ensuring that the association embraces unity among its members.

          Earlier in their presentations, the Chairman, NATA, Ogun State Branch and the National Secretary of the body, Comrades Abiodun Akintunde and David Ajetumobi respectively, commended the government for its relentless backing to the association, pledging that NATA would sustain its existing cordial relationship with the present administration.