Mandilas Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Yaba College of Technology to equip Nigerian students with practical, industry-relevant skills and improve graduate employability.
The partnership, implemented through the John Basil Mandilas Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Mandilas under the stewardship of Mandilas Trust Company Limited, is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and workplace requirements.
Under the agreement, 75 students will be trained in phases, beginning with an initial cohort of 25 students selected through an interview process. Participants will undergo one month of intensive classroom training at Yabatech, followed by two months of industry attachment to enable them to apply technical knowledge in real work environments.
The first phase of the programme will focus on heating, ventilation and air conditioning skills, an area experiencing rising demand across Nigeria’s construction, manufacturing and energy sectors. The training will be delivered through the Mandilas Academy, a no-cost technical skills initiative aimed at exposing students to modern tools, industry standards and current technologies.
Speaking at the signing of the MoU in Lagos, Vice Chairman of Mandilas Group and Executive Vice Chairman of Mandilas Trust Company Limited, Mrs Ola Ayo-Adeloye, said the partnership was founded on a shared belief that education aligned with practical application is a key driver of national development.
She said the initiative would provide hands-on training, industry-aligned certifications and exposure to modern HVAC-R technologies, ensuring that graduates are confident, competent and workplace-ready.
According to her, the programme also integrates themes of energy efficiency, sustainable cooling solutions and environmentally responsible practices, in line with global shifts toward greener engineering systems.
“This partnership reflects our conviction that sustainable progress is achieved when industry works hand-in-hand with academia to develop future-ready talent,” Ayo-Adeloye said, adding that Mandilas plans to develop the Academy into a centre of excellence for HVAC-R training in West Africa.
Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, said the collaboration aligns with the institution’s strategy of strengthening graduate employability by embedding practical skills into academic pathways.
He noted that with more than 36,000 students enrolled across about 90 programmes, Yabatech increasingly relies on industry partnerships to ensure graduates are equipped for evolving workplace expectations.
“In today’s labour market, it is not about the certificates you carry but about what you can do,” Abdul said.
Director of the Centre for Linkages and Partnership at Yabatech, Mr Taiwo Ajala, said the institution would align the programme’s curriculum with the National Board for Technical Education requirements and Nigeria’s National Skills Qualification Framework to ensure participants earn competency-based certifications.
He explained that under the MoU, Yabatech would support student selection, provide access to academic facilities and align curricula, while Mandilas would design and deliver the specialised training, offer stipends, and provide internship and employment opportunities for outstanding participants.
The registrar of Yabatech, Mrs Henrietta Badejo, described the partnership as a mutually beneficial collaboration that supports student development while addressing industry skills needs.
The partners said the programme is expected to contribute to workforce development, economic growth and sustainable industrial practices in Nigeria.
