NASENI mentors 220 Benue youths, women in technical skills

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure has trained 220 Benue youths and women in solar power installation and the production of household essentials as part of efforts to promote self-reliance and reduce unemployment.

The beneficiaries, comprising 100 men and 120 women, also received starter packs from NASENI to enable them to establish small businesses after completing the one-week training.

While the men were trained in electrical works, particularly the installation and coupling of solar power systems, the women were trained in the production of household products, including soap, liquid soap and Vaseline.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the training held at the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area of the state on Saturday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said the programme was part of the federal government’s efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda to empower youths and women.

Akume, who was represented by his Technical Adviser, Prof Babatunde Bolaji Benard, said the government was committed to developing the capacity of Nigerians to produce locally and contribute to the country’s industrialisation.

He said, “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.

“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.”

According to him, the intervention would help build local capacity, stressing that Nigeria could not achieve meaningful industrial development without equipping its citizens with relevant skills.

He urged the beneficiaries to put the starter packs to productive use rather than selling them, saying the businesses they established could grow into larger enterprises and create jobs for others.

The SGF further admonished the beneficiaries, “These people are going home with starter packs. The starter packs will enable them to begin businesses that will lead to small businesses and even mega businesses.

“You are looking at CEOs of tomorrow. They will employ one or two persons to work with them. They will also train other people. One person may end up training 1,000 youths. That will reduce unemployment, empower people, keep them off the streets and keep them away from vices.”

He urged the beneficiaries to apply the skills acquired judiciously, describing the training as “a stepping stone” to further opportunities.

Akume  also encouraged them to take advantage of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund programme to pursue further education.

He disclosed that the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune could benefit from a proposed 10-megawatt electricity project, urging the institution to apply for the intervention.

Representing the Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the Acting Coordinating Director of Engineering Infrastructure, Rasheed Agava, said the agency was interested not only in training people but also in ensuring that the skills translated into livelihoods and businesses.

He said the intervention was implemented under the NASENI Sustainable Empowerment Programme, which was designed to take practical skills, technology and economic opportunities directly to communities.

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Khalil said the solar trainees were being positioned to participate in the country’s growing renewable-energy value chain, while the women could establish sustainable businesses if they paid attention to quality, packaging, branding, financial management and market access.

“Our goal is therefore not to train people simply for the sake of recording numbers. NSEP is about outcomes. We want to see beneficiaries earning incomes. We want to see small businesses emerging. We want to see beneficiaries becoming employers and we want to see skills transferred to other members of their communities,” he said.

He urged the beneficiaries to start putting their skills to work immediately, stressing that NASENI would measure the success of the programme by the number of businesses established, income generated, jobs created, families supported and communities impacted.

Earlier, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, Dr Tyover Ashinya, commended NASENI for selecting the institution and its host community for the programme.

Ashinya described the intervention as timely, given the challenges of unemployment and youth restiveness.

“The certificate you receive is important, but the skill you can demonstrate will open the greater door. Do not allow what you have learned during these five days to end with this ceremony. Practice it, improve it and use it.

“Every successful technician and entrepreneur started with a customer. You do not expect to have plenty of customers before you start. You start with one customer,” the rector said.

He appealed to NASENI to provide modern equipment for the institution’s mechanical engineering laboratories and workshops, particularly for welding and fabrication, automotive engineering, fluid mechanics, material testing and computer-aided manufacturing.

The Rector also requested assistance for the installation of a solar energy farm to provide reliable electricity for the institution’s engineering laboratories and workshops.

The Tor Jemgbagh, David Afatyo Ajoko, praised NASENI and the federal government for the intervention, saying the training and starter packs would help beneficiaries create jobs and train others.

One of the beneficiaries, Terfa Kuma, who was trained in solar power installation, commended NASENI, President Bola Tinubu and Senator Akume for the opportunity.

Kuma, who lives with a physical disability, said his condition would not stop him from deploying the skills acquired, adding that he would employ people to assist him where necessary.

“There is ability in every disability,” he said.

Another beneficiary, Sewuese Iortyer, said the training had equipped her with new skills, particularly in the production of soap and Vaseline.

She said she was determined to use the knowledge acquired to establish a source of income and train others in the skills.