Tunde Bakare
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has empowered young people and women in Ile Ife, Osun State, with advanced technical skills and equipment under its NASENI Sustainable Empowerment Programme (NSEP), aimed at promoting self reliance, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.
The three days training programme, held from August 7 to 9, 2026, at the NASENI Skills Acquisition Centre, Ile Ife, exposed beneficiaries to Advanced Photography and Drone Operations, Advanced Shoemaking, CCTV and Inverter Installations, and Advanced Tailoring, equipping participants with practical knowledge and tools to establish or strengthen income generating ventures.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, represented by the Overseeing Officer, Prototype Engineering Development Institute (PEDI), Ilesha, Mr. Ahmed Olaoye Hamzat, said the initiative was designed to move empowerment beyond the presentation of certificates to providing beneficiaries with practical skills, tools and opportunities capable of translating into sustainable livelihoods and economic independence.
He explained that the programme deliberately combined skills acquisition with the provision of relevant equipment to enable beneficiaries to immediately put their knowledge into practice. Participants in the various skill areas were exposed to modern techniques and tools that could help them improve their professional capacity, offer quality services and build sustainable businesses.
According to Halilu, the equipment provided to beneficiaries should not be regarded merely as empowerment items but as starter tools for building viable enterprises. He urged the beneficiaries to deploy the skills acquired in Photography and Drone Operations, Shoemaking, CCTV and Inverter Installation, and Tailoring to provide services, train others, create employment and contribute to the development of their communities.
The EVC/CEO said the real impact of NSEP would be measured by the multiplier effect created after the training, noting that a beneficiary who builds a successful business, employs another young person, trains an apprentice or provides reliable technical and creative 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 and supports innovative solutions, collaborates with relevant stakeholders and communities, and ensures that technologies, skills and innovations are ultimately converted into economic value.
Mr. Halilu commended the community leaders, trainers, partners and other stakeholders who contributed to the successful implementation of the programme, with particular appreciation to the Chairman of the House Committee on NASENI, Hon. Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro, for his partnership and support towards expanding opportunities for young people and women through practical skills and technology-driven empowerment.
In his remarks, the House Committee Chairman on NASENI, Hon. Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro, ably represented by Mr. Felix Olayemi Oruma, commended the Agency under Halilu’s leadership 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 the development of indigenous technologies.
Mr. Oruma said beneficiaries had gained valuable exposure to Advanced Tailoring, Advanced CCTV and Inverter Installations, Advanced Shoemaking, and Advanced Photography and Drone Operations, describing the training as an opportunity for participants to upgrade their existing knowledge, improve professional standards and maximise the use of modern equipment.
He stressed that the intervention represented 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.