Fifty youths and women have received hands-on training in the technical conversion of petrol and diesel vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) under the Project Green Fleet initiative, designed to drive Nigeria’s clean transport transition and open up new MSME opportunities in the green economy.
The three-day workshop, held in Abuja, was implemented under the British Council’s UK Alumni Climate Action Grants 2025 and executed in partnership with the Presidential Initiative on CNG (Pi-CNG) and a local conversion centre.
In a statement on Tuesday, Project Green Fleet explained that the training combined classroom sessions with practical exercises on vehicle conversion, safety standards, and post-conversion maintenance. The goal was to equip participants with the technical expertise to deliver affordable, eco-friendly transport solutions and develop sustainable green businesses.
Project Lead and UK alumnus, Oluwagbemi Olorunfemi, said the initiative goes beyond technology to focus on job creation and economic empowerment.
“This training is about more than technology; it’s about creating green livelihoods,” Olorunfemi said. “By building local capacity to safely and affordably convert vehicles to CNG, we create immediate income opportunities while supporting national efforts to reduce transport emissions.”
Participants were trained on CNG system fundamentals, engine diagnostics, post-conversion testing, and maintenance. Business development sessions were also included, covering client management, costing, and after-sales services to prepare trainees for entrepreneurship in the green transport sector.
Pi-CNG officials provided technical trainers and certification support, while the partner conversion centre offered facilities, tools, and mentorship to ensure practical learning.
At the end of the programme, all 50 trainees received certificates of participation and were linked to local garages and cooperatives for further mentorship and apprenticeship placements.
A representative of the UK Alumni Climate Action Grants described the project as a model for how alumni-led initiatives can support Nigeria’s climate and economic goals through local innovation.
Olorunfemi also highlighted the importance of building a network of certified technicians to expand CNG adoption nationwide. Project Green Fleet said it plans to extend the training to other cities and develop a standardised curriculum to institutionalise CNG conversion training.
The initiative focuses on promoting sustainable transport through skill development, community engagement, and partnerships, aligning with Nigeria’s broader decarbonisation and energy transition agenda.
