Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima has declared Federal government determination to enabling opportunities for youth through skills acquisition and empowerment.

The Vice President gave the assurance while unveiling the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure’s (NASENI) Community Empowerment Initiative in Science, Technology, Skills Acquisition and Renewable Energy for youths and women in Kano State.

Shettima, represented by his Personal Assistant on Sub-national Infrastructure, Musaddiq Adamu, asserted that NASENI initiative was aimed at creating opportunities for young Nigerians through practical skills development.

He noted that the programme aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises youth empowerment, innovation and economic growth, highlighting that it would be replicated across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Adamu noted that Nigerian youths were already contributing to national development and needed the right platforms to harness their potential.

He maintained that, the programme was an investment in young people, urging beneficiaries to take advantage of the training and apply the skills acquired to create jobs and businesses.

The Vice President’s representative also commended NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Halilu, for repositioning the agency through practical interventions focused on technology and human capital development.

Speaking earlier, Halilu hinted the programme was designed to equip youths and women with relevant skills capable of creating employment opportunities and strengthening local economies.

He said NASENI’s focus was not only on developing technology but also on building the capacity of Nigerians who would create, improve, and commercialise innovations.

“Real industrialisation begins with skilled people. That is why we do more than build technology; we build the people who will create it, use it, improve it, and commercialise it,” he said.

He also explained that Kano was selected because of its history as a centre of commerce, manufacturing and entrepreneurship, adding that beneficiaries would be trained in renewable energy, welding and fabrication, mobile phone hardware repairs, food processing and packaging, among other areas.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, represented at the event, described the initiative as part of efforts by the Federal Government to promote skills acquisition and reduce unemployment.

Akume urged beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity, saying emerging technologies remained critical to Nigeria’s industrial and economic development.