The Lagos State Government (LASG), through the Ministry of Tertiary Education, has unveiled plans to partner with GAC Motors in a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening practical engineering training in state-owned tertiary institutions.
The proposed collaboration will benefit engineering students of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu, by providing advanced hands-on training aligned with industry standards.
The framework for the partnership was established at a high-level tripartite meeting held on Tuesday at the Alausa Secretariat, which brought together officials of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, representatives of GAC Motors, and senior academic leaders from both universities.
Speaking at the meeting, the Honourable Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, stressed that the collaboration must be deliberately structured to integrate practical, industry-relevant skills into existing academic curricula. He explained that the initiative would focus on vehicle assembly, advanced maintenance, servicing, and workshop-based training, with the aim of improving employability and job creation for engineering graduates.
“Our objective is to produce engineering graduates who combine strong theoretical foundations with hands-on practical expertise,” Sule said. “By equipping our students with relevant technical skills, we are positioning them to be self-reliant, entrepreneurial, and competitive in both local and global labour markets.”
The Commissioner added that the state’s tertiary institutions already possess modern laboratories and qualified academic staff, noting that the partnership should leverage these assets for the mutual benefit of students, GAC Motors, and the Nigerian automotive industry.
Representing GAC Motors, Mr. Wale Akinwade reaffirmed the company’s long-standing business relationship with the Lagos State Government. He disclosed that the initiative would provide students with economic empowerment and capacity-building opportunities, including access to practical training programmes both within Nigeria and abroad.
Akinwade further revealed that outstanding students and selected academic staff would be considered for integration into the LAGBUS maintenance and ownership scheme, creating a direct pathway to professional engagement, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods.
Members of the academic delegation, including Professor Nurudeen Raji, Dean of Engineering at LASU; Professor Bankole Yakub, Dean of the College of Engineering at LASUSTECH; Professor Adedeji Kasali of LASU; and Dr. Adekunle Yekini, Head of Mechanical Engineering at LASUSTECH—commended the initiative.
They emphasised that specialised training in vehicle component manufacturing, diagnostics, and repair is critical for modern engineering education. The scholars also called on GAC Motors to establish dedicated workshops within university campuses to serve as permanent centres for innovation, research, and specialised technical training.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Mr. Adeniran Kasali, reiterated that the state government’s core policy objective is to enhance student competency. He noted that strategic partnerships of this nature are vital to building a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and growth in Nigeria’s automotive sector.
The collaboration represents a significant step in the Lagos State Government’s broader effort to bridge the skills gap between tertiary education and the evolving demands of the labour market.