NASENI Trains 220 Benue Youths in Solar, Soap Making

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has trained no fewer than 220 youths and women in Benue State on various entrepreneurial and technical skills, providing starter packs to enable them establish businesses and achieve self-reliance.

The beneficiaries, comprising 100 men trained in solar power installation and 120 women trained in the production of household essentials including soap, liquid soap, Vaseline and other domestic products, underwent a one-week intensive training programme at the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, in Tarka Local Government Area of the state. The initiative was implemented under NASENI's Skill Acquisition Programme, designed to equip Nigerians with practical skills that can create jobs, promote entrepreneurship and provide sustainable sources of income.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the training, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, represented by his Technical Adviser, Prof. Babatunde Bolaji Benard, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda to empower Nigerians, particularly youths and women. Akume said the federal government was committed to developing the capacity of Nigerians to produce locally and contribute to the nation's industrialisation.

"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," Akume said. "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".

Representatives of the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, and Acting Managing Director of the Solid Minerals Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (SOMEDI), Mr. Barnabas Ikyo, said the initiative was designed to take science, technology and engineering solutions from laboratories to homes, businesses and communities. The programme was implemented in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda and deployed practical technologies and skills based on NASENI's three core principles of Creation, Collaboration and Commercialisation.

Ikyo urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously and convert the skills acquired into businesses and employment opportunities. "The skills you will learn in clean energy, solar installation, electrical maintenance and other trades are not just for today. They are tools to generate jobs, start businesses and become employers of labour," he said. He added that the success of the programme would ultimately be measured by its impact on the beneficiaries after the training, particularly their ability to earn income and improve the livelihoods of their households through the skills acquired.

"This is an investment in your productive capacity," Ikyo said, adding that the beneficiaries were being equipped with technologies and skills that could be transformed into services, businesses and sustainable sources of income. He also commended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, for supporting the programme and advocating for the inclusion of Benue State among its beneficiaries. Ikyo urged the beneficiaries to apply the skills acquired diligently and become ambassadors of NASENI in their communities.

The NASENI Skill Acquisition Programme is part of the agency's broader efforts to expand economic opportunities and promote sustainable livelihoods across the country. By equipping young Nigerians and women with practical, marketable skills, the initiative seeks to address unemployment, reduce poverty and foster a culture of entrepreneurship that can drive economic growth at the grassroots level.

For the 220 beneficiaries in Benue State, the training represents more than just a week of instruction; it is a pathway to financial independence and a chance to contribute meaningfully to their communities. With starter packs in hand and newly acquired skills, they are now positioned to launch businesses in the rapidly growing renewable energy sector and the consumer goods market, sectors that offer significant opportunities for growth in Nigeria's evolving economy.

The programme also underscores the federal government's recognition that sustainable development requires not just policy pronouncements but concrete investments in human capital. By targeting youths and women—two demographics that often face significant barriers to economic participation—NASENI is helping to create a more inclusive economy where opportunity is not determined by gender or geographic location. As the beneficiaries return to their communities, they carry with them not just tools and skills, but the potential to transform their own lives and inspire others to follow in their footsteps.