Imo Skills Acquisition Centre: A Testament Of NASENI’s Profound Investment In Youth Empowerment

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has opened vista of opportunities for economic empowerment and technology development through the NASENI Skills Acquisition Centres across the federation, which sets out a flurry of activities as youths from diverse backgrounds benefit to be self employed.

The NASENI multi-dimensional and forward-looking team of experts led by the illustrious Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, was in Owerri, Imo state capital, to expand access to this initiative with the launching of NASENI Skill Acquisition Centre in the state. This is coming as the Heartbeat of the East, Imo State, has become one of the most promising and potentially vibrant states in the Southern region with very industrious population and enormous quest for cumulative interests in technology- driven investment.

NASENI has built a state- of- the- art facility in Owerri North, LGA to harness the skill, expertise and energy of the young people within the digital transformation agenda of the President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, to provide lucrative and dignified jobs for the youth aimed at promoting consistency in their contribution to Nigeria’s economic development.

Technology has always served as the fulcrum of NASENI’s intentional approach to solving complex problems proving that the Agency has always placed the citizens at the centre of everything it set out to do. Apart from the fact that the technology provided at the NSAC is sophisticated, it has opened the floodgates of learning, collaboration with major stakeholders as well as to improve, strengthen integration and gather feedback to accelerate people–centered development.

The rich value this initiative provides is measured in the degree and quality of skills being acquired by the youth in much the same way NASENI is creating an enormous digital technology ecosystem and delivering immense public value.

The People and Government of Imo state, led by Governor Hope Uzodimma were elated about this rare opportunity. Governor Uzodimma while commissioning the Centre commended NASENI for the project, describing it as “a strategic investment in youth empowerment and economic development.”

The NASENI Skills Acquisition Centre, established under the NASENI Sustainable Empowerment Programme (NSEP) in collaboration with the Senator representing Imo East Senatorial District, Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, is designed to equip young Nigerians with practical, industry-relevant skills that promote entrepreneurship, self-reliance and job creation.

Speaking at the commissioning last week, Governor Uzodimma said technology remains central to Nigeria’s economic prosperity and praised NASENI for supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through impactful interventions that empower citizens.

The Governor also described the NSAC project as one that goes beyond empowerment, noting that it provides young people with the practical skills needed to create sustainable livelihoods. “This is not about giving people fish; it is about teaching them how to fish,” Governor Uzodimma said, while urging that graduates of the Centre be supported with start-up capital to establish businesses and create jobs for others.

He also acknowledged NASENI’s continued contributions to development in Imo State and called on the host community and relevant stakeholders to protect the facility, describing it as a valuable public asset for future generations.

Reacting to the commissioning, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, described the project as another demonstration of the Agency’s commitment to building the human capital required to drive Nigeria’s industrial transformation.

According to him, the Skills Acquisition Centre reflects NASENI’s belief that industrialisation begins with people and that investing in practical skills is essential to creating a productive and competitive economy. “The commissioning of this Centre is not merely the opening of another facility. It is the opening of opportunities for young Nigerians to acquire practical skills that solve real problems, create businesses and generate employment.

“At NASENI, we believe our greatest investment is in the talent of our people’, he said, noting noted that the NSAC will offer training in high-demand areas such as solar installation and maintenance, graphic design and printing, phone repair, fisheries and aquaculture, among other vocational and technology-based disciplines, equipping participants with skills aligned to today’s economy.

Halilu explained that the project is fully aligned with NASENI’s strategic focus on Creation, Collaboration and Commercialization, through which the Agency is strengthening innovation ecosystems, expanding local capacity and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported technologies.

The EVC commended Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi for partnering with NASENI to deliver the project adding that it is a trusted foundation for inclusive development.

Senator Onyewuchi said the centre is aimed at tackling youth unemployment through skills acquisition and entrepreneurship. He disclosed that beneficiaries would receive support to establish small businesses upon completion of their training, enabling them to become employers of labour rather than job seekers.

The commissioning of the NASENI Skills Acquisition Centre further reinforces the Agency’s commitment, through the NASENI Sustainable Empowerment Programme (NSEP), to equipping Nigerians with practical skills, fostering innovation and building the workforce needed to accelerate the country’s industrial and economic development.

This initiative reduces the challenges of mismatch between academic output and industry needs just as NASENI has provided adequate infrastructure and is prepared to sustain the efforts by collaborating with international partners for funding in order to address the issue of financial shortfalls.

The NASENI Skills Acquisition Centre is more than just a launch. It is a bastion for institutional capacity. However, it is common knowledge that public and community training centres in Nigeria usually suffer from chronic underfunding and poor maintenance.  One of the challenges in the region appears to be poor capital for creative businesses that require high-tech, especially after individuals have been trained for such purposes.

It is therefore commendable that the Federal Government through NASENI is following by providing starter-up kits for trainees and financial grants in order to convert their energies toward productive areas.