Lagos State Cooperative Federation (LASCOFED) has requested N2 billion grant from the state to empower members create jobs, especially artisans.
Its president, Shobule Oladipo, spoke at a training for mechanics organised in partnership with MAG-BEN Automotive Technology Limited.
The LASCOFED president called for support for artisans and small businesses.
He said: “We told the government we need support with a cooperative fund for the state.
“We asked for N2 billion, to be paid back. It will be distributed to members at single-digit interest rate.
“Our contribution to GDP is huge. In Lagos, we have over two million members, so you can imagine their contribution to the economy. We also help in reducing unemployment.”
He said the training was to teach them modern, computerised cars and keep them up-to-date.
A representative of MAG-BEN, Damilola Adewara, said the training was to encourage mechanics to enhance their knowledge and skills.
Adewara said: “It’s about equipping them in terms of knowledge, appearance, how they relate with customers, but especially about advancements in modern cars.
“We also intimated them about electric vehicles, because some countries have set dates to phase out petrol cars.”
One of the coordinators, professor of linguistics, Francis Egbokhare, said it was an attempt to revive a programme he initiated while director of Distance Learning Centre at the University of Ibadan (UI).
“In association with MAG-BEN, we trained 4,000 mechanics in seven states and UI issued them certificates.
“The idea is the recognition that there are changing technologies, and mechanics were left to learn by trial and error…
“There are also issues of business literacy, competence, safety and health, so we’re putting all of them into a package, in association with LASCOFED, starting with Lagos State.
“We intend to enlarge this by seeking the cooperation of government agencies and international organisations.’’
On the partnership, he said MAG-BEN, brought in practical aspects ‘’while we designed the curriculum and language of delivery, such as Yoruba, Pidgin, Igbo and other indigenous languages.”