The new National President of the Nigerian Automobile Technician Association (NATA), Chief Samson Odewale, has promised retraining targeted at having a more professional and tech-savvy membership in the association.
Odewale made the promise after he and other executive council members of the NATA were inaugurated by the association’s lawyer, Iyabo Adeniyi, at the association’s 7th delegates conference held at the NATA Oyo State office in Ibadan.
Odewale said the drive towards having a digitally savvy membership was imperative because of the constantly changing technologies used to make vehicles.
He said the association discovered that several automobile technicians still had old knowledge garnered from their informal training and found it difficult to efficiently fix modern vehicles.
Worried by the trend, he said the association would organise the retraining of its members for them to be updated and relevant in handling today’s automobiles.
He added that the training and approach of auto technicians also had to improve for them to maintain manufacturer standards.
This is as he frowned at members who engage in illegal businesses or take up automobile jobs that they are not well equipped to handle, promising sanctions for those that are found wanting henceforth.
Noting the factionalization of the association over the years, Odewale promised to promote love, loyalty, and handwork among its members, which include mechanics, panel beaters, and others.
Speaking in the same vein, the National Secretary of NATA, Mr David Ajetunmobi, said the current executive council was committed to repackaging the association’s membership for productivity and better performance.
Also speaking, Ajetumobi cautioned members of the association against abdicating their responsibilities of repairing and maintaining vehicles and giving them to less experienced hands.
He said that after repairs, senior mechanics should certify the vehicle before handing it over to clients.
In his welcome address, the chairman of the planning committee, Mr Ahmed Gbadegesin, also a member of the new Exco, assured members of the focus on training and retraining of members.
The matron of the association, Mrs Seminat Afunleyin, spoke in her remarks on the imperative of love and peace among members.
Other executive members inaugurated include: Deputy 1, Mainasari Balarabi; Deputy 2, Julius Lawal; Deputy 3, Harry Igburigi; National Vice President, West—Azeez Muideen Omonasia; Vice President, North Central, Anthony Bamidele Dada; South-South Vice President, Comrade Vincent; and National Public Relations Officer, Mr Ganiyu Kilani, among others.