Hardship: FG Extends Technology-driven Empowerment To Oyo

The federal government has extended its technology-driven empowerment and clean-energy intervention to Oyo State.

It is being executed by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), which has intensified efforts to deploy science, engineering and innovation as practical tools for reducing economic hardship and expanding livelihood opportunities across the country.

The intervention, under the NASENI Sustainable Empowerment Programme (NSEP), provided beneficiaries with renewable-energy solutions, livelihood support and other practical resources designed to reduce living costs, improve productivity and strengthen economic self-reliance at household and community levels.

At the Oyo edition of the programme yesterday, the executive vice Chairman and chief executive officer of NASENI, Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu, represented by the director, Information, New Media and Protocol Unit, Mr Segun Ayeyeonikan, said the initiative reflected a central shift in the agency’s approach to ensuring that technological development produced tangible benefits for Nigerians.

“This programme reflects a central conviction of the new NASENI: science, engineering and technology must deliver practical benefits that Nigerians can see, use and experience in their everyday lives,” Halilu said.

He said the agency’s mandate went beyond research, laboratories and technology development to ensuring that innovations reached households, entrepreneurs and communities where they could reduce hardship, improve productivity and create sustainable economic opportunities.

“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 said.

According to him, NSEP was designed to connect innovation with inclusion by providing beneficiaries with technologies, livelihood tools and practical support capable of addressing immediate needs while laying a stronger foundation for self-reliance.

“Through NSEP, NASENI is connecting innovation with inclusion. We are providing beneficiaries with technologies, livelihood tools and practical support designed to address immediate needs while creating a stronger foundation for self-reliance,” he said.

He explained that the empowerment items being distributed under the programme included NASENI Solar Home Systems, NASENI Clean Cookstoves and NASENI Support Packs.

He said the Solar Home Systems would provide reliable renewable energy for lighting, charging essential devices and supporting household and small-business activities, while the Clean Cookstoves would offer safer and more efficient means of cooking.

“The Clean Cookstoves offer a safer and more efficient means of cooking, helping families reduce fuel consumption, household expenses and exposure to harmful smoke,” he said.

Halilu added that the Support Packs would provide immediate relief and strengthen beneficiaries’ capacity to meet essential household needs.

He said the combined interventions were intended to reduce living costs, improve health, enhance productivity and enable beneficiaries to direct more of their resources towards education, enterprise and other productive activities.

The NASENI boss stressed that the objective of the programme was not simply to distribute materials, but to ensure that beneficiaries could use the support to lower costs, improve their productive capacity, generate income and gain greater control over their economic future.

“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 true value of today’s intervention will therefore be determined by how beneficiaries use the support they receive and the opportunities they create from it,” he said.

Halilu described Oyo State as an important part of Nigeria’s economic and cultural history, noting its strong traditions of enterprise, agriculture, craftsmanship, education and commerce.

“Oyo State occupies an important place in Nigeria’s economic and cultural history. It has a strong tradition of enterprise, agriculture, craftsmanship, education and commerce,” he said.

He said the energy and creativity of the people of the state made it a natural partner in NASENI’s efforts to bring technology closer to Nigerians and transform ideas into measurable impact.

Halilu said the Oyo intervention was built on NSEP activities already implemented across different parts of the country, including Kano, Osun, Abia, Lagos, Anambra and Benue states.

He noted that those interventions had provided clean-energy solutions, livelihood assistance and practical skills in areas including solar installation, electrical maintenance, household production and other market-relevant vocations.

He cited the intervention in Onitsha, where 100 young men and women received five days of practical training in modern electrical installation and maintenance and were equipped with tools to begin productive careers.

He also referred to the distribution of NASENI Solar Home Systems, Clean Cookstoves and Support Packs to households in Abatete, while similar interventions in Ohafia, Lagos and other locations had demonstrated how technology could directly improve living conditions and expand opportunities.

Halilu said the interventions formed part of NASENI’s contribution to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly its focus on job creation, economic inclusion, human capital development, clean energy and sustainable growth.

He said the programme also reflected NASENI’s operating principles of Creation, Collaboration and Commercialisation, known as the 3Cs.

“We create solutions to real problems, collaborate with public and private stakeholders to deliver them, and support their transformation into sustainable social and economic value,” he said.

The NASENI chief executive expressed appreciation to Senator Sharafadeen Alli, representing Oyo South Senatorial District, for his leadership, partnership and commitment to the welfare of his constituents.

“I wish to express our sincere appreciation to the distinguished Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, for his leadership, partnership, and commitment to the welfare of his constituents,” Halilu said.

“Your support has helped make this programme possible and demonstrates what can be achieved when institutions and elected representatives work together around the real needs of the people.”

He also appreciated the Oyo State government, traditional institutions, community leaders, partners, the implementing team and others who contributed to the success of the programme.

In his remarks, the special guest of honour and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Sharafadeen Alli, represented by the Director-General of his campaign organisation, Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe, commended NASENI for extending the federal intervention to the state.

Alli said the programme demonstrated the importance of linking technological innovation with practical economic empowerment, particularly at a time when households and small businesses needed interventions capable of reducing operating and living costs.