Lady Mechanic Initiative Manufactures Prototype Car

The promoter of the Lady Mechanic Initiative, Mrs. Sandra Aguebor-Ekperuoh has revealed that the initiative will unveil its innovative locally made vehicle during the forth coming graduation of its trainees in August this year.
Ekperuoh  in a press conference in Lagos last week , explained  that  the Lady Mechanic Initiative is not a practical ground only but  also an academy where the art of how to fix cars is learnt and having done that , she said that these ladies go back to impart the art to the society. Learning the trade, she said will make the ladies lead a better life and have dignity as women as well as offer them the opportunity to impart on the larger society.
She narrated that the first year of the training which normally has a three year span, was foundational while the second year takes the girls to PAN automobile in Kaduna to learn how cars are assembled. This exercise lasts for three months at the end of which the students will be tested and the successful ones issued with certificates. On return from Kaduna she said, the students are also required to spend another three months in Coscharis, the sole distributor of BMW vehicles in Nigeria to learn about electrical diagnosis because of the innovations in the automobile business.
Lady Mechanic Initiative supported by MTN Foundation is a not for profit organization that is transforming the lives of young girls who are less privileged by engaging them in training as motor mechanics.  Mechanic as a trade was hitherto an exclusive area for men but Ekperuoh said with determination and courage, one believing in his dream,  that one would definitely succeed. She said the mission of the initiative is to empower young women in auto mechanic as a profession to create wealth for a sustainable source of livelihood.
Ekperuoh disclosed that the LMI has got a lot of volunteers working with it  from the Voluntary Service Officers (VSOs) to help the initiative in the area of capacity building and development. One of them, Russell Patrick from the United Kingdom, has a vast experience in the auto industry and is instrumental to the LMI vehicle project. Russell said that he has a lot of things to do with the initiative as the promoter is doing something no one is doing in other parts of the world. Other members present included Julia Ajayi, country director and Van der Vert.
Ekperuoh appealed to the Lagos State government to approve a land for the initiative as it is finding it difficult to install the tools and equipment it is getting from the international community. She said that women from other states of the federation can also come to the centre and tap into the initiative if it has enough space that can accommodate them.
At present the initiative is talking with Bayelsa and Edo state governments to start the initiative in the two states ..