The Deputy Rector, Administration, Yaba College of Technology, Arc. Femi Lawal, presents a Certificate of Completion and Starter Pack to one of the graduate trainees of the YABATECH TETFund Centre of Excellence in Skills, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development (TETCoE) 2026 Scheme during the trainees’ Exit Programme held at the College Hall of the institution. He is flanked by (left) Mrs. Tokunbo Adegoju, representative of Automedics Nigeria Ltd., and (right) the Acting Chairman, TETCoE Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), Dr. Lauretta Ofodile.
By Peace Udugba
Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has graduated more than 50 trainees from its TETFund Centre of Excellence in Skills, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development (TETCoE), following the successful completion of certified short courses in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Welding and Fibreglass Technology for Vehicles.
Each participant underwent training valued at approximately N1.2 million, highlighting the significant investment in technical and vocational skills development and YABATECH’s commitment to producing industry-ready manpower for Nigeria’s evolving economy.
Cross-section of the graduate trainees of the YABATECH TETFund Centre of Excellence in Skills, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development (TETCoE) 2026 Scheme during their Exit Programme held at the College Hall of the institution. At the centre are members of the College Management and representatives of the industry partner.
The trainees were formally celebrated on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the College Hall, YABATECH, during the closing ceremony of the certified short courses.
The event brought together the College’s management, TETCoE officials, instructors, resource persons, industry experts, partners and graduating trainees.
The programme was implemented under the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Skills, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development, established to strengthen specialised skills development, applied research and industry-oriented training.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Engr. Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul, described the closing ceremony as a significant milestone for both the graduating participants and the institution.
Abdul said YABATECH was continuously positioning itself at the forefront of practical solutions to contemporary national challenges through initiatives that provide young people with high-demand and industry-relevant technical competencies.
According to him, the training programme had successfully produced Cohorts 3 and 4 in Compressed Natural Gas technology, alongside a cohort in Welding and Fibreglass Technology for Vehicles.
The Rector said the specialised training tracks were deliberately selected because of their relevance to critical areas of Nigeria’s evolving economy.
He explained that the CNG programme equipped trainees with knowledge of the technology and mechanics involved in CNG conversion, giving them a competitive advantage in the emerging green economy while positioning them to contribute to national economic growth and environmental sustainability.
On Welding and Fibreglass Technology for Vehicles, Abdul said the programme provided participants with practical expertise in automotive fabrication, body repair, structural engineering and modern material technology required for contemporary vehicle manufacturing and maintenance.
“You are leaving YABATECH not merely with certificates, but as solution providers, innovators, and future industry leaders capable of driving self-reliance and technological progress,” the Rector said.
Abdul commended the leadership and staff of TETCoE, resource persons and instructors for their dedication to practical excellence and urged the graduands to become worthy ambassadors of Yaba College of Technology.
The Acting Chairman of the Technical Advisory Committee, Dr. Lauretta Ofodile, urged the graduating trainees not to regard the completion of the programme as the end of their learning journey, but as a foundation upon which they could build more advanced technical competencies.
She said the skills acquired were “more than just certificates,” describing them as tools for financial independence, entrepreneurship and industrial leadership.
Ofodile charged the beneficiaries to uphold professional integrity, remain disciplined and innovative, and continuously upgrade their knowledge through further training, research, workshops and industry exposure.
The representative of Automedics Nigeria Ltd., Mrs. Toronto Adegoju, who spoke on the CNG training, congratulated the trainees on successfully completing the programme and stressed the importance of safety in the installation, calibration and maintenance of CNG-related automotive systems.
She advised the trainees to always use appropriate tools, follow established procedures and ensure that installations and calibrations were properly executed before vehicles were put into operation.
According to her, technological advancement in the automotive sector makes continuous learning indispensable, urging the beneficiaries to keep abreast of emerging technologies and industry developments.
Earlier, the Director of TETCoE, Arc. Sherifdeen Ayodele-Oja, described the Centre as a strategic platform established to promote specialised training in skills that address priority national challenges while strengthening the capacity of institutions to deliver quality training and applied research.
He said the Centre, established in 2021, was selected as one of six Centres of Excellence in Nigeria and had continued to support capacity development through industry-relevant skills training, innovation and applied research.
According to him, the Centre was established to bridge the gap among academia, industry, policymakers and communities, while developing industrially relevant products and services, strengthening research capacity and integrating contemporary technologies into skills development.
The College’s partnerships with industry organisations, including Automedics Nigeria Ltd. and IVIX Design Ltd., were also highlighted as part of efforts to expose trainees to practical industry experience and create pathways for entrepreneurship and professional development.
Ayodele-Oja said the partnerships were necessary to ensure that technical education responds directly to the changing needs of the labour market and national economic development.
The event also featured the presentation of certificates and starter packs to the graduating trainees to enable them to begin their entrepreneurial journeys and put their newly acquired skills into practice.
A representative of the beneficiaries commended TETFund, TETCoE and the management of Yaba College of Technology for the empowerment and opportunities provided to the trainees.
The beneficiaries pledged to add value to the institution as ambassadors and to promote and apply the skills acquired during the training to contribute to Nigeria’s technological and economic development.
