NBTI, NDE Close Ranks To Empower Nigerians, Eradicate Poverty

The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) and National Directorate of Employment (NDE) have inaugurated a Joint Committee to collaborate on technology incubation, skills acquisition, and enterprise development across Nigeria.

NBTI, in a statement by its Chief Information and Public Relations Officer, Olajumoke David, on Sunday in Abuja, described the partnership as a bold and visionary move to combat poverty, empower citizens, and foster inclusive economic growth.

It noted that the strategic partnership reflects the unwavering commitment of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda as rooted in economic empowerment, job creation, and sustainable development.

During the meeting at the NBTI’s headquarters in Abuja, Director-General and CEO of the NDE, Mr. Silas Agara lauded the initiative as a timely intervention to address national socio-economic challenges through the development of practical skills and entrepreneurship, emphasising that both agencies share a common vision to uplift millions of Nigerians out of poverty through capacity building and technology innovations.

“Our collaboration with NBTI is not only strategic, but also deeply aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s mission to create wealth and reduce poverty through skills acquisition and innovation. By harnessing our collective strength, reach, and resources, we can scale the impact of our programmes to every corner of the country,” Agara said.

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He celebrated the NBTI Director-General, Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji for his intellectual honesty, commitment and vision and as well for his unrelenting capacity and consummate professional track record of integrity known across the public sector.

For his part, Dr. Raji reaffirmed NBTI’s commitment to expanding its footprint from 36 Technology Incubation Centres per state, six zonal offices, and 15 extension offices to establishing technology incubation centres in all 774 local government areas of the Federation.

He added that plans were underway to also establish Renewed Hope Technology Hubs and Parks in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Raji said this ambitious plan was targeted at addressing grassroots poverty, unlocking local innovation, and providing a pipeline for entrepreneurial development.

He emphasised the commitment that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda leaves no Nigerian behind, whether skilled or unskilled, literate or illiterate, artisan or graduate.

“This is a government that listens, a government that acts, and a government determined to break the chains of poverty through sustainable empowerment and homegrown technology innovations,” he stated.

A key highlight of the partnership was the integration of NDE-trained participants into NBTI’s incubation framework to ensure that beneficiaries not only acquire skills, but are also nurtured into successful entrepreneurs that can access intellectual property support, business advisory, market linkages, and finance.

He further noted that the joint effort aims to supporting creation of over one million jobs annually in line with Tinubu’s vision for an inclusive, productive, and self-reliant Nigeria.

Furthermore, the partnership seeks to promote utilisation of local raw materials, reduces dependence on imports, and harnesses indigenous talents and resources for national development.