NASENI empowers 100 Kwara youths on modern electrical installations, maintenance

• As FG stresses self-employment as panacea to reducing unemployment

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has empowered 100 youths across Kwara State in line with the directive by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government on upscale of the skills of youths nationwide in order to promote employment and self-reliance.

NASENI had previously carried out similar exercises in 11 states of the Federation, totalling about 1,100 youths altogether trained nationwide in various vocations, ranging from electrical installations and maintenance, modern auto-mechanics and diagnostics, solar installations and maintenance, modern tailoring and installations of Plaster of Paris, popularly known as POP.

The new Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Dr. Bashir Gwandu, during the closing ceremony of the five-day training at the weekend in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, thanked President Buhari for the foresight of the Federal Government to impact directly on the youth through the NASENI skill development programme, which began since middle of 2022, and the first phase was targetted to be completed before the expiration of the tenure of President Buhari Administration in May 29.

Gwandu said the closing ceremony in Ilorin on modern methods of electrical installations and maintenance and skill development workshop was significant because it marked the second of its kind in the North Central geo-political zone by NASENI, and it was part of the series of directives from President Muhammadu to NASENI to build the capacity of young people in modern electrical installations and maintenance amongst other vocations and professions.

He said: “Our aim is to ensure that our teeming youths develop modern skills in electrical installations and maintenance required for creation of jobs and self-employment generation.”

Gwandu therefore thanked Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, for his unwavering support for NASENI. According to him, the entire board, management, and staff of NASENI, he said, were eternally grateful for the efforts of Prof. Gambari in giving the agency a new lease of life to realise the dreams of its founding fathers.

Represented at the occasion by the Coordinating Director, Planning and Business Development, Mrs. Nonyem Onyechi, the new NASENI chief executive also explained that the efforts by the President and support by Gambari had helped NASENI in bringing innovation and infusion of science and engineering in different sectors of the Nigerian economy.

The Governor of Kwara State Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Barr. Olabode George Towoju said the empowerment of youths in the state was a priority programme of the government before now as grants of various types have been issued to youths who had entrepreneurial prospects and therefore what NASENI had brought to the state as directed by Mr. President was quite timely and commendable.

Some of the modern tools and equipment handed over to the participants during the closing ceremony included work-master, electrical tools box, cordless drilling machine, multi-meter tester and other electrical tool kits amongst others.