Segun Atanda/
A major leap toward strengthening Nigeria’s technical manpower was recorded on Saturday as the Chairman of MOMAS Group, Engr. Kola Balogun, laid the foundation for the €3 million (₦5.02 billion) Momas Technical Vocational and Educational Training (TVET) Centre for Electro-Technology in Ogun State.
The project—funded by the African Union in partnership with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the Skills Initiative for Africa (SIFA)—is one of the continent’s most ambitious private-sector-led interventions in technical skills development. MOMAS secured the grant under SIFA’s Funding Window 1, which supports large-scale TVET initiatives designed to equip Africans for 21st-century work.
Speaking at the groundbreaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industrial Training and Development, Mr. Adamson Oluwatosin Ayinde, hailed the initiative as a shining example of private-sector commitment to national development.
“This project directly responds to critical manpower shortages in smart electricity metering, electrical wiring and maintenance, renewable energy technologies, and electro-technology safety practices,” Ayinde said.
He praised Engr. Balogun’s “patriotism, foresight and commitment,” noting MOMAS’ readiness to surpass the required 10 percent counterpart funding.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s push to build a technically competent workforce and reduce dependence on foreign artisans.
“This centre is a promise to our youths, opportunity, empowerment and hope for young Nigerians seeking employment or entrepreneurship,” he added.
AUDA-NEPAD representative, Mr. Gemechu Berhanu Kusa, said the project signaled the birth of a transformative training hub that would empower young Africans with life-changing skills.
“Technical and vocational education is not a second choice, but a first-class pathway to opportunity, dignity and sustainable livelihoods,” Kusa said.
He added that the centre’s emphasis on electrotechnology and renewable energy, particularly solar photovoltaic systems, places it at the heart of solving youth unemployment while supporting Nigeria’s clean energy transition.
He disclosed that the institution would run globally aligned curricula, offer scholarships, ensure inclusivity and strengthen the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
In her goodwill message, the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, described the initiative as timely and visionary.
“The nation is in desperate need of skilled manpower to drive infrastructure development, industrial growth and technological advancement,” she said.
Oguntala urged the Federal Government, Lagos State Government and key industry stakeholders to partner with MOMAS to maximize the centre’s impact. She affirmed the NSE’s full support for the project, stressing its immense economic value.
In his remarks, Engr. Balogun said the centre was conceived to reinforce ongoing efforts to equip young Nigerians with practical, employable skills capable of lifting them out of poverty while strengthening national capacity.
He revealed that the support from NEPAD and the German government would enable the procurement of advanced machinery and expansion of training programmes, potentially opening doors for graduates to work in Europe and other advanced markets.
He stressed the critical role the centre would play in supporting Nigeria’s renewable energy ambitions.
“The centre will provide the needed skills for installing solar panels, solar batteries and energy storage systems, thereby complementing government’s investment in renewable energy,” he said.
Balogun disclosed that construction would be completed within a year, with NEPAD directly responsible for funding the contractor. The ultimate goal, he said, is to establish a globally recognised institution capable of producing top-tier engineers and technicians.
Group Managing Director of MOMAS, Engr. Hammed Abiodun, described the groundbreaking as a landmark achievement and a testament to MOMAS’ long-standing investment in youth development.
“This recognition by the German government is a testament to our commitment to adding value to society, especially the youth,” he said.
Abiodun highlighted the global shift toward technical skills, noting that countries like China owe their industrial success to strong TVET systems.
“Our goal is to harness Nigeria’s large youth population by training and reshaping them to contribute meaningfully to national development,” he added.
With construction underway and international partners onboard, the MOMAS Electro-Technology TVET Centre is poised to become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s skills revolution—empowering a new generation of technicians, engineers and renewable-energy specialists for the future.
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