Kebbi, NASENI partner to empower youths on solar energy technology

The Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu has disclosed plans are underway to partner the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in the training of youths in the state in the production of solar energy.

Bangudu, who disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the agency recently in Abuja, maintained the partnership will dovetail into cooperation in other areas of electrical energy which is aimed at providing employment opportunities for youths in the state.

Disclosing the plan to deploy team that would finalize the training programme with the agency, Bagudu also expressed interest in the deployment of small hydro power plants to the state to improve rural electrification and improve agricultural machineries, such as rice thresher among other equipment that would boost food production in the state.

He observed is needed to unearth the potential of the country is the political will to unbundle the potentials adding, “if we utilize what we have we will go a long way without necessarily depend on imported capital goods”.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof Mohammed Sani Haruna in his remark lamented that the lack of political will and appropriate funding have indeed hampered the smooth operation of the agency, adding that statutorily NASENI was suppose to be receiving two percent of revenue generated in the consolidated account.

He said with the necessary political will and appropriate funding, the agency could help revitalize the Nigerian manufacturing sector and help provide job for teaming unemployed youths.

Haruna further pointed out that the Agency is the only government institution in the whole of West Africa to have established a Solar Panel manufacturing plant for the production of solar panels and has also developed small hydro power plant to be installed in towns and villages across the country for the generation of electricity as well as numerous agricultural equipment aimed at economic development.

He explained that Kebbi State, like many other states in Nigeria, needs rural electrification through solar energy to boost rural electrification.