The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, is ensuring youth development through skills acquisition for job creation in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The ongoing establishment of several NASENI Skills Acquisition Centres (NSACs) across the federation will drive this process and ensure massive investments in tools and expertise of young people in many sectors which will create employment and wealth for millions of Nigerians and the government.
Under the guidance of the executive vice chairman and chief executive officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the Agency is expanding the prospects of youth empowerment, where every young person is made to exploit his/her potential to contribute to economic growth and the development of those essential skills that will transform them into producers and innovators.
Currently, NASENI has about a dozen Development Institutes (or divisions) spread across the country with specific mono mandate, targeting different sectors of the Nigerian economy, aimed at stimulating the country’s industrialisation agenda. Also, new and emerging Institutes are underway to complement the established ones.
However, to address youth unemployment and youth restiveness, the Agency came up with two laudable interventions, the establishment of NASENI Skill Acquisition Centres (NSAC) across the states and the organisation of NASENI Skill Acquisition Training workshops in different cities across the country.
These two interventions are bold and strategic efforts to combat the persistent challenges of youth unemployment and widespread poverty by equipping Nigerian youths with market-ready, practical skills in technical and vocational areas.
The construction of the skill acquisition centres located in Agwada and Keffi both in Nasarawa State; Gwantu, Kaduna State; Bagudo in Kebbi State; Zangon Daura, Katsina State; Gboko and the Wannune both in Benue State; and Ife in Oyo State with others are all underway.
The Agency hopes that upscaling skills of the youth will make them more competitive in an increasingly-challenging world. The youth remain the strength of any society and channelling their energies properly toward productive ventures by investing in their skills can only lead to sustainable economic growth and social cohesion as they are not just beneficiaries of development but active agents of change.
The NASENI boss recognises that Nigeria faces many challenges that significantly affect young people. The insurgency, kidnapping, disruption of education and persistent economic inequality limit the opportunities for youth to thrive. Therefore, the Agency’s move to provide young people with the necessary skills to promote sustainable development is crucial to building a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future for all.
Also, regularly in every state, the Agency holds its NASENI Skill Acquisition Training Workshop to impart knowledge and skills to the youth. Delivered through using modern tools and hands-on methodologies, the training workshops reflect global best practices in vocational education and training (VET), ensuring that participants are aligned with industry standards and ready for integration into the formal and informal labour markets.
Beyond technical proficiency, the NASENI Skill Acquisition Training workshops foster entrepreneurship, self-reliance, and community resilience, while contributing to the development of a skilled workforce critical to national industrial growth and infrastructure sustainability.
A recent and impactful skill acquisition training workshop by NASENI held between 26-29 November, 2024, for 100 youths in Ebonyi State at Remeritona Hotel and Suites, Abakaliki, the state capital, focused on modern methods of electrical installations and maintenance. Participants were taken through advanced modules such as electrical wiring techniques, appliance repair, solar power installation, maintenance of electrical panels, safety inspections, and upgrading of outdated electrical systems.
These areas are not only critical in the domestic and commercial energy ecosystem, but they also represent growing sectors in Nigeria’s service and infrastructure industries. What distinguishes NASENI’s training workshops from others is its deliberate focus on practical, hands-on instruction using modern tools and equipment. For Instance, in the Abakalili workshop, participants had access to advanced training tools, including digital multi-meter testers, cordless drilling machines, and various diagnostic instruments.
The practical exposure enabled them to simulate real-world electrical challenges and implement solutions with confidence and precision. The aim is to ensure that graduates of the programme leave not only with theoretical understanding but also with tangible skills that match global industry standards. NASENI has also held two skill acquisition training workshops in Awka, Anambra State on solar installation and maintenance and in Owerri, Imo State on electrical installation and maintenance respectively.
Also, on 8-10 July, 2024 at the NASENI Skill Acquisition Centre located in Ife Federal Constituency, Osun State. The Agency trained youths in the state, equipping participants with hands-on experience in modern tailoring and shoe-making techniques.
According to the EVC/CEO of NASENI, by paying particular attention to job creation through skills acquisition training, the Agency is contributing to economic growth, creating enabling environment for the development of skills and poverty alleviation, making way for socio-economic development and guaranteeing a safe and brighter future for the youths.
“It is imperative to let you know that we draw inspiration from Eight Priority Areas of the President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on Ending Poverty, Economic Growth, Job Creation, Food Security, Access to Capital, Improved Security, Enabling Environment, Rule of Law, and the Fight against Corruption,” he said.
Halilu added that, aside from job creation, the NASENI Skill Acquisition Training Workshops guarantee employability and economic opportunities for the youth, meets industry demands, safety and compliance, energy efficiency, skill and community development, technology advancements, global opportunities and personal growth, amongst others.
He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the Starter Kits handed over to them to build their career and train others. “You must not sell the Starter kits, because money in the accounts now is just temporary, but the skill, which you have, will give you identity and brighter future,” he added.
In Ebonyi State, participating youths were handed Starter Kits containing face shield, earmuff, hard hat, coverall, insulate glove, safety boot, safety eye goggle, fishing tape, cardless hammer drill, measuring tape, wire striper, non-contact tester, Allen wrench set, wireless inspection camera and conduit bender amongst other modern electrical tools.
One of the participants, Mr. Chinedu Okafor, a 27-year-old graduate of electrical engineering, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity. He noted that, although he had academic knowledge of electrical systems, he lacked the practical know-how and tools to apply his knowledge effectively. The training, he said, provided him with both the confidence and competence to begin working independently.
Similarly, Miss Grace Nwankwo, a 24-year-old participant, shared how the training had opened new opportunities for her. Having always dreamt of entering the renewable energy space but lacking the financial means for formal training, the NASENI programme gave her a valuable springboard into the solar power sector.
The economic opportunities are vast for those who appreciate the importance of learning and continuous re-skilling in a rapidly-evolving job market. These training workshops are part of NASENI’s broader vision to replicate job creation and economic empowerment across Nigeria. With strategic plans in place to extend the programme to all cities and towns, NASENI is positioning itself as a key driver of national economic revitalization through skills development. The Agency’s approach aligns with global best practices in workforce development, which emphasize technical competence, adaptability, and innovation.
At the heart of this intervention is the recognition that the traditional routes to employment are no longer sufficient. The dynamics of service delivery, infrastructure expansion, and technological change require a new generation of skilled professionals, who can adapt, solve problems, and add value in practical ways. By training and retraining youths, NASENI is helping them to stay relevant in their chosen vocations while also bridging the skills gap in vital sectors of the economy.
The EVC/CEO of NASENI has consistently emphasized that science, technology, and engineering are at the core of any nation’s development. The recent effort through establishment of NASENI Skill Acquisition Centres and NASENI Skill Acquisition Training Workshops affirm the Agency’s commitment to deploying those tools not just in research and policy but in grassroots empowerment that directly impacts lives and livelihoods.
The intervention programmes are more than a technical workshop and centre; they are a sustainable model of economic inclusion. It is a clear demonstration of how government-backed institutions can catalyze real change when interventions are well-designed, adequately-resourced, and executed with integrity and vision.
As thousands of trained youths across all state capitals return to their communities, they take with them not just knowledge and tools, but also a renewed sense of purpose and the ability to contribute meaningfully to society. For NASENI, youth empowerment is central to national development. By enabling young people to acquire relevant and updated vocational skills, the Agency is not only addressing unemployment but also supporting entrepreneurship, stimulating small and medium-sized enterprises, and contributing to the diversification of the economy.
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