By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is building local capacity by equipping youths and women with practical skills to drive Nigeria’s industrial development and reduce unemployment.
Akume stated this on behalf of the Federal Government while speaking through his Technical Adviser, Prof. Babatunde Bolaji Benard, at the closing ceremony of a skills training programme organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) at the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune in Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State.
The SGF said the training of 220 beneficiaries, comprising 100 men in solar power installation and 120 women in the production of household essentials, was part of the Tinubu administration’s empowerment initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said Nigeria could not achieve meaningful industrialisation without developing the skills and productive capacity of its citizens, stressing that the beneficiaries were being prepared to become entrepreneurs, employers of labour and trainers of others.
“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,” he said.
Akume added that the beneficiaries, who also received certificates and starter packs, were expected to use the support to establish businesses that could grow into larger enterprises and create employment opportunities for others.
“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 said.
He urged the beneficiaries not to sell the equipment and materials provided to them but to put them to productive use, describing the intervention as a stepping stone to further opportunities.
“The skills you have acquired, if applied judiciously, will bring more opportunities and interventions. This is just a stepping stone,” he said.
The SSG also urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing it as another intervention of the Tinubu administration capable of supporting Nigerians seeking further education.
He disclosed that the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, could benefit from a proposed 10-megawatt electricity project and urged 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, Dr Rasheed Agava, said the agency’s Sustainable Empowerment Programme (NSEP) was designed to take practical skills, technology and economic opportunities directly to communities.
Agava said the programme was focused on measurable economic outcomes rather than merely increasing the number of people trained.
“Today, we are celebrating more than the successful completion of another NASENI training programme. We are celebrating 220 Nigerians who are leaving here with practical skills that can become livelihoods, businesses, and sources of economic independence,” he said.
He said the solar trainees were being positioned to participate in Nigeria’s growing renewable-energy value chain, while the women beneficiaries could establish sustainable enterprises through quality production, packaging, branding, financial management and access to markets.
Agava urged the beneficiaries to immediately deploy the skills acquired, saying NASENI would measure the success of the programme by the 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 intervention.
Ashinya said the programme was timely given the challenges of unemployment and youth restiveness, urging the beneficiaries to start using their skills rather than wait for perfect conditions.
“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,” he said.
The Rector appealed to NASENI to provide modern equipment for the institution’s mechanical engineering laboratories and workshops, particularly in welding and fabrication, automotive engineering, fluid mechanics, material testing and computer-aided manufacturing.
He 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, HRH David Afatyo Ajoko, commended the Federal Government and NASENI for the intervention, saying the training and starter packs would enable beneficiaries to create jobs for themselves and others.
One of the beneficiaries, Terfa Kuma, who was trained in solar power installation, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and Senator Akume, saying the training would improve his standard of living.
Kuma, who lives with a physical disability, said his condition would not prevent him from deploying the skills acquired, noting that he could employ people to assist him when necessary.
“There is ability in every disability,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Sewuese Iortyer, said the training had equipped her with new skills in the production of soap and Vaseline and expressed determination to establish a source of income and train others in the skills acquired.
