Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has again demonstrated her commitment to grassroots development by empowering her constituents with modern vocational, digital skills. and others.
The initiative, held on Saturday in Kogi Central, brought together 250 beneficiaries including students, traders and youths from across the constituency.
According to her, the training covered a wide range of contemporary and essential skills such as: data analysis and digital Transcription, environmental sustainability and remediation initiatives, security innovations with a focus on drone technology and business development and financial literacy for market women.
The elated senator said, “The aim of the programme is to boost self-reliance, enhance economic participation, and provide constituents with the tools to thrive in a modern economy.
“Even while on suspension, I will continue to work for you. My duty to you is not tied to a seat in the chamber, but to the mandate you gave me and the love I have for our people,” she said.
Despite ongoing political challenges, including her recent suspension from Senate activities, Senator Natasha reassured her people of her unwavering commitment to development.
The event marks yet another milestone in Senator Natasha’s grassroots empowerment agenda, reinforcing her position as one of the most people-focused legislators in Nigeria today.
She noted that “It’s not in contention that drone technology is the new frontier of socio-economic development not only in Africa but globally. Hence, our office freely trained and distributed 80 drones to individuals and learning institutions thereby raising Nigeria’s standard as an African leader in innovative capacity-building technologies”.
“Typically used for photography, videography, so we educated participants in a range of expansive ways drones can be deployed such as the construction, oil and gas, agriculture, delivery services, environmental monitoring, geographically mapping, telecommunications among others
“For the love of education, our office extended a participatory invitation to departments of Geology and Environmental Science of the following 10 tertiary institutions nationwide and they were given a drone each.
The benefiting institutions are: Federal College of Education, Okene, Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara (Absent), Kogi State University, Anyigba, Federal University, Lokoja,
Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja (Absent),
University of Ilorin, Bayero University, Kano, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Federal University of Science and Technology, Minna.
“We also had beneficiaries from Zamfara, Ondo, Oyo, Delta, Borno, Cross River, Edo, Abia, Imo and Akwa Ibom states.”
According to her the drones are in compliance with the NCAA regulations, saying that all are sub-250g each.
In addition she said the “Programmes weren’t limited to drone technology trainings alone. In summary, 250 persons and institutions were empowered along the following spread: 80 DJI Drones for technology initiatives, 70 HP laptops for Data Analytics, 50 Engineering toolboxes and safety kits and 50 Welding machines and safety kits.”
Beneficiaries of the training expressed deep appreciation to the senator for her consistent dedication to their welfare, describing her as a rare gem in Nigerian politics.
Many used the occasion to rally support for the senator, urging Nigerians to stand with her in the face of what they described as “a cabal of underdevelopment” allegedly working to frustrate her efforts at the National Assembly.
