Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, has disclosed that his administration was putting in place a state-of-the-art mechanical facilities for the assemblage and repair of automobiles, first of its kind in Nigeria.
Aregbesola made this known at a reception of the team of German trainers in Osogbo, the state capital, with the beneficiaries, Nigerian Automobile Technician Association, NATA, in attendance.
Named the Mechatronic Village, and situated in the College of Technology town, Esa-Oke, the facility which is nearing completion has three computerised mechanical workshops for assembling and repair of various types of automobiles.
According to the governor, the era of shipping complex automobile from Nigeria abroad for repairs will stop once the workshop begins operating in the state.
“Checks revealed that the kind of machine procured by the government is not only best but also the latest anyone can get in the world today,” a statement by the government said.
According to sources, the state government had already sent some youths of the state to Germany for training in automobile assembly and repairs. They are expected to be the pioneer staff of the facility when it begins operation.
The governor also revealed that about 50 artisans from the state had early this year been sent to Germany for modern automobile trainings in some of the best automobile companies in the world.
The second face of the auto-revolution, according to the governor, is the training of the artisans and automobile technicians in the state.
In a scheme called train-the-trainer, the 50 artisans sent to Germany received training, returned to the state and are now in conjunction with their German trainers, set to train the local artisan on the modern art of automobile repair and assemblage.
“This Mechatronic programme is conceived to upgrade the artisans to fit into the modern automobile practice standard as it obtains in the developed world,” the governor said.
“Our Government introduced the scheme to serve many purposes. This will help the artisan to be up-to-date in their chosen profession and would be able to handle repair of any car.
“Besides, the people of the state and other states of the federation will benefit immensely from this programme as repair and services of even the latest automobile will now be handled in Osun with ease and professionalism.
“The days of shipping a faulty car abroad for repair are nearing an end now with the establishment of our mechatronics.
“So, I can tell you that a revolution in automobile is germinating in Osun with the kind of machine we procured, which if not only best but also the latest anyone can get in the world today.
“The machine is the first and only one in the country today. So what our automobile technicians are about to undergo is the best that can happen to the anywhere in the world.” Aregbesola said.
Aregbesola is following in d footsteps of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to leave an enduring legacy. It is not in vain dat Osun ppl hv given him d mandate for second tenure. We need ppl like him in power.