NASENI Empowers Osun Youths, Women with Technical Skills, Equipment
Oru Leonard
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has empowered youths and women in Ile-Ife, Osun State, with advanced technical skills and work equipment under its NASENI Sustainable Empowerment Programme (NSEP).
The three-day training programme, held from August 7 to 9, 2026, at the NASENI Skills Acquisition Centre, Ile-Ife, provided participants with practical training in Advanced Photography and Drone Operations, Advanced Shoemaking, CCTV and Inverter Installations, and Advanced Tailoring.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, represented by the Overseeing Officer of the Prototype Engineering Development Institute (PEDI), Ilesa, Mr. Ahmed Olaoye Hamzat, said the programme was designed to move empowerment beyond the presentation of certificates by equipping beneficiaries with practical skills, tools and opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.
Halilu said the provision of relevant equipment alongside the training would enable beneficiaries to immediately apply the knowledge acquired and establish or strengthen income-generating ventures.
He urged the beneficiaries to deploy their skills in Photography and Drone Operations, Shoemaking, CCTV and Inverter Installation, and Tailoring to provide quality services, train others, create employment and contribute to the development of their communities.
According to him, the equipment should be regarded as starter tools for building viable enterprises rather than mere empowerment items.
He said the real impact of NSEP would be measured by its multiplier effect, noting that a beneficiary who successfully establishes a business, employs another young person, trains an apprentice or provides reliable technical and creative services would be contributing to the core objectives of the programme.
The NASENI chief executive also reiterated that the Agency’s empowerment initiatives are anchored on its 3Cs of Creation, Collaboration and Commercialisation, through which it develops innovative solutions, works with stakeholders and communities, and converts technologies, skills and innovations into economic value.
Halilu commended community leaders, trainers, partners and other stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the programme.
He particularly appreciated the Chairman of the House Committee on NASENI, Hon. Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro, for his partnership and support towards expanding opportunities for youths and women through practical skills and technology-driven empowerment.
In his remarks, Ajilesoro, represented by Mr. Felix Olayemi Oruma, commended NASENI for taking the skills acquisition programme to the people of Ile-Ife.
Oruma said NASENI had become a household name through its interventions in innovation, reverse engineering, local assembly and the development of indigenous technologies.
He noted that the beneficiaries had gained valuable exposure to advanced tailoring, CCTV and inverter installation, shoemaking, photography and drone operations.
He described the programme as an opportunity for participants to upgrade their knowledge, improve professional standards and maximise the use of modern equipment.
Oruma stressed that the intervention represented a sustainable approach to empowerment, saying the programme was designed to equip people with the skills and tools to become economically productive rather than merely providing temporary assistance.
The closing ceremony also featured the presentation of industrial sewing machines and CCTV installation work tools to beneficiaries, underscoring NASENI’s commitment to combining skills development with practical support for enterprise creation.
