The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has launched a five-day skills acquisition programme for 120 youths in Lokoja, Kogi State, to equip them with practical knowledge in electrical installation and maintenance.
The training, organised under the Skills Acquisition Training and Youth Empowerment (SATYE) initiative, commenced on Monday at Reverton Hotel, Lokoja, and is scheduled to end on Friday, October 23, 2026.
The programme aims to promote self-reliance, entrepreneurship and economic inclusion by providing participants with practical skills that can create employment opportunities and support small businesses.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Engr. Abdulmalik Onuwe Ibrahim, Director of Research at NASENI, who represented the agency’s Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, urged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity to acquire relevant technical knowledge and practical experience.
He said the initiative reflects NASENI’s commitment to developing human capacity and supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on youth empowerment and economic participation.
According to him, the agency is working to make science, technology and engineering more accessible by taking practical innovations beyond laboratories and into homes, businesses and communities.
He added that NASENI’s 3Cs framework — Creation, Collaboration and Commercialisation — guides its efforts to develop technologies, generate employment, support businesses and strengthen communities.
Ibrahim also disclosed that participants would receive starter kits at the end of the training to help them establish businesses and apply their newly acquired skills to income-generating activities.
He commended the Maigari of Lokoja and Chairman of the Lokoja Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Kabir Maikarfi IV, for supporting the programme and providing a conducive environment for its commencement. He also acknowledged the contributions of the facilitators and the Local Organising Committee.
In his remarks, the traditional ruler, represented by the Matawalle of Lokoja, Alhaji Muhammed Adamu, called on the federal and state governments to revive technical colleges across Nigeria to strengthen technical and vocational education.
He expressed concern that inadequate access to technical training continued to limit the country’s technological advancement, stressing the importance of institutions that equip young people with practical and industry-relevant skills.
He said the NASENI initiative would help beneficiaries improve their livelihoods while contributing to the development of their communities.
Some participants, including Miss Umar Hawa from Angwan Kura and Abdullahi Ahmed from the Cantonment area of Lokoja, thanked NASENI for selecting them for the programme. They said the training would provide them with valuable skills to improve their economic prospects and become self-reliant.
In a vote of thanks, NASENI’s Deputy Director of Information, Mr Chima Akwaja, appreciated the participants and traditional rulers for their support and cooperation.
The programme forms part of efforts to expand access to practical technical training, promote youth entrepreneurship and equip Nigerians with skills that can support employment and local economic development.
