Precious Obogo
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has empowered 300 youths and women in Oyo State with Home Solar Systems and Clean Energy Cookstoves under its Sustainable Empowerment Programme (NSEP) held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
The empowerment, which targeted vulnerable groups including persons with disabilities across all nooks and crannies of the state, saw over 250 women receive NASENI Clean Cookstoves and 50 men received NASENI Solar Home Systems and Support Packs to reduce energy costs and boost livelihoods.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, represented by the Director, Information, New Media and Protocol Mr. Segun Ayeoyenikan, said the initiative embodies the new NASENI vision. According to him, “science, engineering and technology must deliver practical benefits that Nigerians can see, use and experience in their everyday lives.”
Mr. Halilu noted that the Agency has moved beyond laboratories, stating, “Our mandate goes beyond research, laboratories, and technology development. It includes ensuring these technologies reach households, entrepreneurs, and communities, where they can reduce hardship, improve productivity, and create sustainable economic opportunities.”
He added that through NSEP, “NASENI is connecting innovation with inclusion,” stressing that “Our objective is not simply to distribute items. Meaningful empowerment must help people reduce costs, improve their productive capacity, earn income and exercise greater control over their economic future.”
The NASENI boss explained that the intervention in Oyo State builds on similar programmes in Kano, Osun, Abia, Lagos, Anambra and Benue States, and is anchored on NASENI’s 3Cs principles of Creation, Collaboration and Commercialisation, as part of its contribution to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
In his remarks, the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Sen. Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, represented by Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe, Director-General of his Campaign Council, described the programme as “a commendable and tremendous plan of translating science and technology into practical solutions that will improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.”
He said the distribution of cookstoves and solar systems “is an approach to empowerment that goes beyond financial assistance but promoting cleaner energy, healthier household, environmental sustainability and a good environment for all and sundry,” adding that this program is not merely an empowerment program, it’s an investment in human capacity, and investing in human capacity is investing in nation building.