SGF Akume lauds Tinubu as NASENI trains 220 youths, women in Benue

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has trained 220 youths and women in various entrepreneurial and technical skills in Benue State and equipped them with starter packs to enable them establish their own businesses and become self-reliant.

The beneficiaries, comprising 100 men and 120 women, were trained in solar power installation and the production of household essentials, including soap, liquid soap, Vaseline and other domestic products.

They were also presented with certificates and starter packs at the closing ceremony of the five-day training held at the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, in Tarka Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, commended President Bola Tinubu’s empowerment initiatives, saying the programme was part of the Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at empowering Nigerians, particularly youths and women.

Akume, who was represented by his Technical Adviser, Prof. Babatunde Benard, said the Federal Government was committed to building the capacity of Nigerians to produce locally and contribute to the nation’s industrialisation.

He said: “President Bola Tinubu made a lot of promises to transform Nigeria and has set in place reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda. One of the strong ones is the empowerment of youths and women.

“This week, 220 people, comprising 100 youths and 120 women, have received training in various skills, including soap production and other domestic materials, while the youths were trained in electricals, especially the coupling of solar power systems.”

He described the training as one of the interventions through which the government was building local capacity, stressing that Nigeria could not achieve meaningful industrial development without equipping its citizens with relevant skills.

He said the starter packs provided to the beneficiaries would enable them to establish small businesses that could eventually grow into large enterprises capable of employing other Nigerians.

“These people are going home with starter packs. The starter packs will enable them to begin businesses that will lead to small businesses and even mega businesses.

“You are looking at CEOs of tomorrow. They will employ one or two persons to work with them. They will also train other people. One person may end up training 1,000 youths. That will reduce unemployment, empower people, keep them off the streets and keep them away from vices,” he said.

He, however, urged the beneficiaries not to sell the equipment and materials provided to them but to put them to productive use for their personal development and the benefit of their communities.

“The skills you have acquired, if applied judiciously, will bring more opportunities and interventions. This is just a stepping stone,” he said.

Akume also urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing it as another intervention programme of the Tinubu administration capable of supporting Nigerians seeking further education.

He disclosed that the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, could benefit from a proposed 10-megawatt electricity project, urging the institution to apply for the intervention.

Representing the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the Acting Coordinating Director of Engineering Infrastructure, Dr Rasheed Agava, said the agency was celebrating not just the completion of another training programme but the emergence of 220 Nigerians equipped with practical skills that could become livelihoods and businesses.

“Today, we are celebrating more than the successful completion of another NASENI training programme. We are celebrating 220 Nigerians who are leaving here with practical skills that can become livelihoods, businesses and sources of economic independence,” he said.

Agava explained that the intervention was implemented under the NASENI Sustainable Empowerment Programme (NSEP), designed to take practical skills, technology and economic opportunities directly to communities.

He urged the beneficiaries to see the training as the beginning of a new phase rather than the end of the programme.

Meanwhile, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, Dr Tyover Ashinya, commended NASENI for selecting the institution and its host community for the programme, describing the intervention as timely, given the challenges of unemployment and youth restiveness.

He urged the beneficiaries to deploy the skills acquired rather than wait for perfect conditions before starting their businesses.

The Rector also appealed to NASENI to provide modern equipment for the institution’s mechanical engineering laboratories and workshops, particularly in welding and fabrication, automotive engineering, fluid mechanics, material testing and computer-aided manufacturing.

The Tor Jemgbagh, HRH David Ajoko, also lauded NASENI and the Federal Government for the intervention, saying the training and starter packs would create employment opportunities for the beneficiaries and others they would train.

“This training and start-up kits will help the beneficiaries develop, train others and also create job opportunities for many others. So, we thank the Federal Government for this laudable initiative,” he said.

Some of the beneficiaries, including Terfa Kuma, Titus Akahan, Fidelis Iyoo and Sewuese Iortyer, expressed appreciation to NASENI, President Tinubu and Senator Akume for the opportunity, saying the training would improve their standard of living.