By Emmanuel Kwada
In a decisive step towards addressing unemployment, reducing poverty, and accelerating Nigeria’s industrial transformation, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has launched a nationwide Community Empowerment and Skills Development Programme designed to equip young Nigerians and women with practical, market-driven skills for the modern economy.
The ambitious initiative was officially flagged off in Kano by Vice President Kashim Shettima as part of the Federal Government’s broader commitment to human capital development under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The programme will train more than 160 participants in its first phase across the six geopolitical zones, focusing on high-demand sectors such as solar installation and maintenance, mobile phone hardware repairs, electrical appliance servicing, welding and fabrication, food processing and packaging, as well as entrepreneurship development.
Beyond being a vocational training scheme, the programme represents a strategic national intervention aimed at unlocking economic opportunities for young people while advancing Nigeria’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It reflects a growing recognition that sustainable development can only be achieved when citizens are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and tools needed to participate meaningfully in economic growth.
At the centre of this transformative vision is NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, whose leadership has repositioned the agency as a leading force in innovation, technology transfer, industrial development, and workforce empowerment.
Under his stewardship, NASENI has increasingly focused on translating policy objectives into practical programmes capable of delivering measurable impact in communities across the country.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Dr. Yahaya Tanko, Technical Assistant to the EVC/CEO on Sustainable Development Goals, described the programme as a direct response to some of Nigeria’s most pressing socio-economic challenges.
According to him, the initiative goes beyond skills acquisition by creating pathways to economic independence, entrepreneurship, and long-term prosperity.
“The future belongs to the skilled,” Dr. Tanko declared, emphasizing that nations that invest in relevant skills and innovation are better positioned to compete in a rapidly evolving global economy.
He explained that the program aligns closely with global development priorities by creating opportunities for decent work and economic growth through practical training that prepares participants for employment, self-reliance, and enterprise creation.
Instead of merely producing job seekers, the initiative is crafted to nurture job creators capable of establishing businesses, generating income, and contributing significantly to national productivity, he declared.
Dr. Tanko further noted that the programme’s emphasis on solar technology and renewable energy reflects NASENI’s commitment to expanding access to affordable and clean energy solutions.
By training participants in solar installation and maintenance, the agency is helping to build a workforce capable of supporting Nigeria’s energy transition while providing sustainable solutions for households, farms, and small businesses, particularly in underserved and off-grid communities.
A key feature of the initiative is its deliberate focus on women’s participation. According to NASENI officials, empowering women with practical technical skills not only promotes economic inclusion but also strengthens families, communities, and local economies. By opening doors to new opportunities, the programme seeks to break long-standing barriers that have limited women’s participation in critical sectors of the economy.
The initiative also reflects NASENI’s broader commitment to education, innovation, and industrial advancement. Beyond vocational training, the agency is supporting schools with laptops and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) innovation kits aimed at nurturing creativity, problem-solving, and technological competence among young learners. This investment in STEM education is expected to strengthen the foundation for future scientific discoveries, engineering breakthroughs, and industrial growth.
One of the participants, Abdullahi Adamu, described the programme’s dual focus on immediate skills acquisition and long-term innovation development as one of its greatest strengths.
According to him, by addressing present employment challenges while simultaneously investing in the next generation of innovators, NASENI is helping to bridge the gap between education and industry while laying the groundwork for a knowledge-based economy.
Represented at the launch by the Personal Assistant to the President on Subnational Infrastructure in the Office of the Vice President, Musaddiq Mustapha Adamu, Vice President Shettima praised the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s greatest asset—its people.
“The government is not doing you a favour. It is making an investment in you because it believes the return is worth it. Learn, apply what you have learnt and justify that confidence,” he told participants.
For Engr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the programme represents far more than a training exercise; it is part of a broader vision to build a resilient workforce capable of driving Nigeria’s industrial future.
“The future belongs to people with skills. The knowledge you gain here can create businesses, support families, employ others and contribute to Nigeria’s industrial growth,” he said.
His remarks underscore a philosophy that has increasingly defined NASENI’s direction under his leadership: that sustainable national development is best achieved when innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, and human capacity development work together to create opportunities and unlock economic potential.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, represented by Dr. Ibrahim Abdulkadir, also commended the initiative, describing it as a significant contribution to innovation-driven human capital development and inclusive economic growth. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building a technology-enabled economy capable of competing globally while creating sustainable opportunities for Nigerians.
The programme attracted support from a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives of the Kano State Government, the Nigerian Commodity Exchange, the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and the Arewa Consultative Forum. Their endorsements reflected growing confidence in NASENI’s role as a catalyst for economic empowerment, technological advancement, and national development.
As the first cohort of participants begins training, many stakeholders see the initiative as a defining example of how strategic investment in skills, technology, and innovation can advance Nigeria’s development aspirations.
By aligning practical empowerment programmes with the Sustainable Development Goals, NASENI is not only addressing unemployment and poverty but also laying the foundation for a more inclusive, productive, and prosperous society.
Delivering a passionate message to beneficiaries and Nigerians at large, Dr. Tanko urged participants to fully embrace the opportunity presented by the programme, stressing that the future would be shaped by those willing to acquire relevant and adaptable skills.
“The future belongs to those who acquire relevant skills. Use this opportunity maximally. Learn diligently, apply the knowledge creatively, innovate locally, and become the solution your community and country need. The government has shown commitment; now it is time for you to justify that confidence through results,” he said.
Dr. Tanko further called on the media, development partners, state governments, and the private sector to rally behind the initiative, emphasizing that broad-based collaboration is essential to achieving sustainable development outcomes.
According to him, when skills development, technology, and entrepreneurship converge, they create a powerful engine for economic growth, job creation, innovation, and national transformation.
He noted that the success of the programme would ultimately be measured not only by the number of people trained but also by the businesses established, jobs created, communities empowered, and opportunities unlocked across the country.
Under the leadership of Engr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, NASENI continues to demonstrate that sustainable development is best driven through investment in people, innovation, and practical solutions.
As Nigeria seeks to build a competitive, technology-driven economy, the agency’s nationwide skills empowerment programme is emerging as a bold blueprint for transforming potential into prosperity and preparing a new generation of Nigerians to thrive in the economy of the future.
The message emerging from Kano is both simple and profound: in the economy of tomorrow, skills will be the currency of opportunity, and through initiatives such as this, NASENI is ensuring that Nigerians are equipped not merely to participate in that future, but to lead it.
Join our Telegram group and receive breaking and trending news updates directly on your phone.
Join for News Updates ✕
