By Grace Ben Kato
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has ended its one-week Skill Acquisition Training and Youth Empowerment (SATYE), programme in Lokoja, with the distribution of starter packs to 120 beneficiaries, cautioning them against selling the tools.
The closing ceremony of the training in Modern Methods of Electrical Installation and Maintenance was held recently in Lokoja.
The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Halilu, who was represented by the Acting Coordinating Director, Finance and Accounts, Ibrahim Dauda, warned that the starter packs and the cash support given to each trainee are meant to be tools for transformation and not for immediate sale.
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He said the beneficiaries must view the items as seed capital to establish their own businesses and become economically independent.
“I congratulate all the trainees. The knowledge you have gained here is a valuable asset. As you receive the starter packs today, please view them as tools for transformation. Use them wisely, practice diligently and remain committed to excellence. Your success will be the true measure of the impact of this programme,” Halilu said.
He explained that NASENI’s vision of industrialisation goes beyond factories and machines, noting that industrial development must ultimately create opportunities for ordinary Nigerians.
According to him, the training which focused on electrical installation and maintenance has strategically placed the 120 young men and women within one of the fastest-growing sectors of the Nigerian economy — the building and construction industry.
Halilu noted that the intervention aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda of expanding economic opportunities and strengthening human capital.
He thanked the Maigari of Lokoja, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Kabir Maikarfi IV, and the traditional institution for their support and partnership.
He reaffirmed NASENI’s commitment to bringing science, technology and engineering closer to the people for youth empowerment and national prosperity.
I’m his address, The Maigari of Lokoja and Chairman, Lokoja Traditional Council, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Kabir Maikarfi IV, described the one-week skills improvement training for electricians as unprecedented in Lokoja since the creation of Kogi State in 1991.
He said the training represents an important step towards the development of technical skills, youth empowerment and promotion of self-reliance in the community.
“An initiative of this nature, specifically designed to improve the technical skills of Electricians in Lokoja, is unprecedented since the creation of Kogi State in 1991,” he said.
The Maigari, on behalf of the Lokoja Traditional Institution and the people of Lokoja, expressed profound appreciation to NASENI for bringing the programme to their doorstep, describing it as a demonstration of commitment to human capital development and advancement of technical competence.
He expressed hope that the programme would mark the beginning of a lasting and mutually beneficial relationship between NASENI and Kogi State.
According to him, in a world where technical knowledge, practical competence, innovation and adaptability are increasingly critical for personal and economic advancement, electricians with up-to-date knowledge are better positioned to meet societal demands.
He said the training had provided participants with opportunity to improve professional competence, learn better working methods and strengthen capacity to deliver quality services.
The monarch urged the beneficiaries to regard the knowledge acquired as valuable investment in their personal development and professional future, stressing that technical and vocational skills should not be regarded as inferior to other forms of education.
“Our community must continue to appreciate, encourage and support people who acquire practical skills and use them responsibly to serve society,” he said.
He advised the participants not to see the completion of the training as the end of learning, noting that technology changes and professional standards evolve.
He further charged them to embrace self-discipline, punctuality, honesty, diligence and respect for clients, and never to compromise safety in a bid to save time or cost. Even as he cautioned them against selling the tools.
“You should regard yourselves as ambassadors of NASENI. Your conduct and quality of service will help to shape public perception of the agency and the effectiveness of its training programmes,” he said.
The traditional ruler noted that the success of the beneficiaries would not only benefit them and their families but also demonstrate the value of NASENI’s intervention and strengthen the case for similar programmes in other trades and communities.
He called on NASENI to sustain and expand its interventions in Lokoja and across Kogi State, and urged government institutions, private organisations, professional associations and community stakeholders to support initiatives aimed at improving technical and vocational training.
“As we bring this one week training programme to a close, I wish to remind our participants that the true measure of this exercise will not be determined merely by the certificates you may receive, but by how effectively you apply the knowledge and skills acquired,” he added.
