Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has expressed her excitement over women’s potential to convert vehicles from petrol to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

She spoke during the graduation of 50 women from the Lady Mechanic Initiative (LMI) in Benin, the Edo State capital.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim described the occasion as a defining moment in Nigeria’s clean energy transition and a bold step towards dismantling gender stereotypes in technical careers.

“This moment is more than a graduation; it is a declaration of what is possible when progressive policies meet courageous women.

“These 50 women are not just mechanics; they are trailblazers and proof that the Renewed Hope Agenda is delivering real results,” she said.

The minister revealed that over 1,500 women had now been trained as auto mechanics in Nigeria, many of them through programmes pioneered by the Lady Mechanic Association, founded by Sandra Aguebor.

She said that the initiative emerged from extensive consultations across the automotive sector and represents a deliberate effort to embed women at the centre of Nigeria’s industrial and energy revolution.

However, the founder of Lady Mechanic Initiative (LMI), Sandra Aguebor, while speaking during the graduation ceremony with the theme: “CNG Conversion: A New Horizon for Women in the Automotive Industry,” said the 50 graduates would no doubt boost the needed manpower for the conversion of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) vehicles to those using CNG.

She added that the training was sponsored by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the Edo State government and LMI.

Aguebor said that the women mechanics in Edo State have the potential to convert vehicles from petrol to CNG, following their training and successful graduation from LMI.

According to her, CNG is a popular alternative fuel for vehicles due to its affordability and cleaner burning properties compared to gasoline and diesel.

She noted that the Lady Mechanic initiatives are available in over 20 states in the country with certified coordinators.

Aguebor said that the programme had been designed to move women and girls forward, particularly in ensuring economic prosperity for their families and to keep hope alive for the girls, who are the most vulnerable in society.

She said that the initiative had given her the opportunity to support the girls with mentoring and counselling.

Besides, she said all the beneficiaries have been trained and certified as CNG Conversion technicians, adding that LMI was spreading the campaign of females taking over the male dominated automotive industry.

Aguebor, therefore, commended the Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, for supporting the initiative and the Federal Government for its commitment to the training.

She noted that the training is being jointly put together by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the Edo State Government and the Lady Mechanic Initiative (LMI).

Meanwhile, Okpebholo had on Monday, underscored the state’s strong commitment to women’s empowerment, emphasising its recognition as not just a matter of social justice but also “smart economics.”

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Musa Ikhilor, lauded the uniqueness of the programme.

According to the governor, “I am very much aware that this conversion of CNG programme is a programme carried out by NADDC and it has done that in Edo, Ekiti and Imo states.