GE launches ‘Garages’ advanced manufacturing program in Lagos

Leading Multinational, General Electric (GE) officially launch its permanent installation of the Lagos Garage, a hub for advanced manufacturing-based innovation, strategy development, idea generation and collaboration.

The event which held at the second floor of the Mansard Place, VI, Lagos on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 kicked off with a welcome address by Segun Obagbemi, Head, Communications/Public Affairs at GE West Africa.

Jay Ireland, CEO and President of GE Africa gave the opening remarks while Mr Abdul Ahmed Mustapha, Permanent Secretary at the Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment gave his address afterwards.

Mustapha said the Lagos State government is working with schools like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US to help develop an educational curriculum for Lagos State for the advancement of entrepreneurship.

Co-located with the GE Lagos offices in Victoria Island, the Lagos Garage will offer a year-round series of skills training programs focused on building the next generation of Nigerian entrepreneurs. Participants will be trained to use the latest in advanced manufacturing technologies; 3D printers, CNC mills, and laser cutters in the first-ever fabrication lab in Nigeria.

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They will also learn how to apply the core principles of design thinking, product development, finance, marketing, sales, and customer acquisition in real-time to their ventures.

‘Innovation and technology are fundamental for Africa to better compete in a global frame work” said President & CEO, GE Nigeria, Dr. Lazarus Angbazo. “Innovation needs to be tailored to the specificities of local needs. “GE is pleased to encourage innovation in Nigeria and support SME development through skills-building initiatives such as these.”

“GE is proud to launch the Lagos Garage, a hub that is dedicated to accelerating the impact of some of Nigeria’s most promising entrepreneurs. We have set up a learning environment that is different from the traditional. We are combining both the classroom and the real-world – providing hands-on training in advanced manufacturing” said Patricia Obozuwa, Director of Communications & Public Affairs for GE Africa.

GE Lagos Garage is a lab space that brings together innovation tools, technology and skills training to shape the future of work.