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A New Dawn for Skills Empowerment in Osun State
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has launched a transformative initiative in Ile Ife, Osun State, equipping young people and women with cutting-edge technical skills and starter equipment.
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Under its NASENI Sustainable Empowerment Programme (NSEP), the agency is driving self-reliance, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods by moving beyond traditional certificate-based training to deliver practical, income-generating capabilities.
Programme Highlights: Three Days of Intensive Hands-On Training
The three-day training, held from August 7 to 9, 2026, at the NASENI Skills Acquisition Centre, Ile Ife, exposed beneficiaries to four high-demand skill tracks:
- Advanced Photography and Drone Operations
- Advanced Shoemaking
- CCTV and Inverter Installations
- Advanced Tailoring
Participants received not only theoretical knowledge but also practical exposure to modern techniques and tools, enabling them to immediately establish or strengthen their own income-generating ventures.
Empowerment Beyond Certificates
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, represented by the Overseeing Officer of the Prototype Engineering Development Institute (PEDI), Ilesha, Mr. Ahmed Olaoye Hamzat, emphasized that the initiative was designed to move empowerment beyond the presentation of certificates.
He noted that the programme deliberately combined skills acquisition with the provision of relevant equipment, allowing beneficiaries to translate their newfound knowledge into sustainable livelihoods and economic independence.
Mr. Halilu urged participants to view the equipment not merely as empowerment items but as starter tools for building viable enterprises. He encouraged them to deploy their skills in photography, drone operations, shoemaking, CCTV and inverter installation, and tailoring to provide services, train others, create employment, and contribute to community development.
Measuring Impact: The Multiplier Effect
The EVC/CEO stressed that the real impact of NSEP would be measured by the multiplier effect created after the training. He explained that a beneficiary who builds a successful business, employs another young person, trains an apprentice, or provides reliable technical services would be helping to achieve the fundamental objective of the programme.
He reiterated that NASENI’s empowerment initiatives are anchored on its 3Cs of Creation, Collaboration, and Commercialisation, through which the agency creates innovative solutions, collaborates with stakeholders, and ensures that skills and innovations are converted into economic value.
Legislative Support: A Sustainable Approach to Empowerment
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on NASENI, Hon. Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro, represented by Mr. Felix Olayemi Oruma, commended the agency for bringing the skills acquisition programme to the people of Ile Ife. He noted that NASENI had evolved into a household name through its interventions in innovation, reverse engineering, local assembly, and indigenous technology development.
Mr. Oruma described the training as a sustainable approach to empowerment, noting that rather than simply giving people fish, the programme was teaching them how to catch fish for themselves. He commended NASENI for its commitment to developing human capacity and creating pathways for Nigerians to become economically productive.
A Collaborative Success
Mr. Halilu extended appreciation to community leaders, trainers, partners, and stakeholders who contributed to the programme’s success, with particular gratitude to Hon. Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro for his partnership and support in expanding opportunities for young people and women through practical skills and technology-driven empowerment.
