NASENI Skills Acquisition Centre Opens New Opportunities for Imo Youths
The commissioning of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Skills Acquisition Centre (NSAC) in Owerri North, Imo State, last week, marked another milestone in the Federal Government’s drive to build a skilled workforce capable of supporting Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda, economic empowerment and job creation. The Centre, established under the NASENI Sustainable Empowerment […]
The commissioning of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Skills Acquisition Centre (NSAC) in Owerri North, Imo State, last week, marked another milestone in the Federal Government’s drive to build a skilled workforce capable of supporting Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda, economic empowerment and job creation.
The Centre, established under the NASENI Sustainable Empowerment Programme (NSEP) in partnership with the senator representing Imo East Senatorial District, Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, is expected to serve as a hub for practical vocational and technology-based training, equipping young Nigerians with industry-relevant skills that will enhance entrepreneurship, reduce unemployment and stimulate local economic growth.
The initiative aligns with the Agency’s broader mandate of promoting indigenous technology, supporting local manufacturing and strengthening the country’s science and engineering capacity. It also reflects NASENI’s growing emphasis on human capital development as a critical pillar for achieving sustainable industrial transformation.
Speaking during the inauguration of the facility, Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who commended the Agency for expanding access to technology-driven skills through the commissioning of the NASENI Skills Acquisition Centre in Owerri, described the initiative as a strategic investment in youth empowerment and economic development.
He said the project is a timely intervention that demonstrates the importance of investing in people rather than depending solely on social welfare programmes. According to him, the NASENI Skills Acquisition Centre represents more than the construction of another public facility. Rather, it is an investment in the future of thousands of young Nigerians who will acquire practical skills capable of transforming their lives and contributing meaningfully to national development.
The governor said technology has become the foundation of economic prosperity across the world, stressing that countries that have successfully transformed their economies did so by investing heavily in innovation, technical education and entrepreneurship.
He commended the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu for translating the Federal Government’s industrialisation vision into practical interventions that directly benefit ordinary Nigerians. Uzodimma noted that the establishment of the Centre supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of youth empowerment, job creation, innovation and economic diversification.
He said programmes that equip citizens with productive skills remain one of the most effective strategies for addressing unemployment, reducing poverty and strengthening economic resilience. Describing the initiative as a practical response to youth unemployment, the governor emphasised that the project would enable beneficiaries to acquire skills that would allow them to establish businesses, create employment and become contributors to economic development.
“This is not about giving people fish; it is about teaching them how to fish,” he said. According to him, sustainable empowerment goes beyond distributing financial assistance.
He argued that lasting economic transformation can only occur when individuals possess practical skills that enable them to earn sustainable incomes and build successful enterprises.
The governor further appealed for graduates of the programme to receive start-up support after completing their training, saying access to equipment, finance and business development support would enable beneficiaries to translate their newly acquired skills into thriving businesses. He observed that many young entrepreneurs possess the knowledge and determination to succeed but are often constrained by inadequate access to start-up capital.
Uzodimma also commended NASENI for its growing developmental footprint in Imo State, saying the Agency has consistently demonstrated commitment to initiatives that promote innovation, technology adoption and local economic development. He urged residents of the host community, traditional institutions and relevant stakeholders to protect the facility, describing it as a valuable public investment that should be preserved for future generations.
For NASENI, the EVC/CEO, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the commissioning of the Owerri NSAC is another practical demonstration of its determination to build the human capacity required to drive Nigeria’s industrial growth. He said the Agency recognises that no country can achieve meaningful industrialisation without investing deliberately in the skills and productivity of its people.
He explained that while infrastructure remains important, human capital is the foundation upon which every successful industrial economy is built. According to Halilu, the new Centre represents more than a physical structure because it symbolises opportunity, innovation and the Agency’s commitment to developing the next generation of Nigerian entrepreneurs, technicians and innovators.
“The commissioning of this Centre is not merely the opening of another facility. It is the opening of opportunities for young Nigerians to acquire practical skills that solve real problems, create businesses and generate employment. At NASENI, we believe our greatest investment is in the talent of our people,” he said.
He explained that the facility has been designed to provide practical training in areas where there is growing demand for skilled manpower within Nigeria’s economy. Among the programmes to be offered are solar installation and maintenance, graphic design and printing, mobile phone repairs, fisheries and aquaculture, as well as other vocational and technology-driven disciplines that respond to current labour market needs.
According to Halilu, the choice of NSAC reflects NASENI’s commitment to preparing Nigerians for opportunities within both traditional and emerging sectors of the economy. As Nigeria continues to experience rapid technological changes and increased demand for technical expertise, Halilu said institutions such as the NASENI Skills Acquisition Centre would play a significant role in preparing young people for the future of work.
He noted that many industries increasingly require workers with specialised practical skills rather than purely academic qualifications, making vocational education an essential component of national economic planning. The NASENI boss explained that the project also aligns with the Agency’s strategic framework built around the three pillars of Creation, Collaboration and Commercialization (3Cs).
He said these principles have continued to shape NASENI’s programmes by encouraging innovation, strengthening partnerships and ensuring that locally developed technologies are transformed into commercially viable products and services. He said partnerships involving public institutions, elected representatives, private sector operators and local communities provide the enabling environment required to achieve lasting impact.
Halilu commended Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi for partnering with NASENI to bring the project to fruition, describing the collaboration as an example of how legislators and government agencies can work together to deliver meaningful development projects that directly benefit citizens. He said such partnerships should be encouraged across the country to expand access to technical education and skills development opportunities.
The senator representing Imo East Senatorial District, Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, said the establishment of the Centre reflects a deliberate effort to tackle unemployment by providing practical skills capable of creating sustainable livelihoods. He noted that unemployment remains one of the major challenges confronting many young Nigerians, making skills acquisition and entrepreneurship increasingly important.
According to him, beneficiaries will not only receive practical training but will also be supported after graduation to establish small businesses and become self-reliant. He expressed confidence that many graduates of the programme would eventually become employers of labour, thereby contributing to economic growth within their communities.
The lawmaker stressed that entrepreneurship remains one of the most sustainable pathways for addressing unemployment, particularly at a time when opportunities within the formal public sector remain limited. He said empowering young people with practical vocational skills would reduce dependence on white-collar jobs while encouraging innovation, creativity and productivity.
Industry experts have consistently argued that technical and vocational education remains one of the fastest routes to economic inclusion, particularly for developing countries seeking to expand manufacturing, improve productivity and reduce unemployment. Countries that have successfully diversified their economies have often combined investments in education with practical skills development, technology transfer and support for small and medium enterprises.
Similarly, training in graphic design, printing, mobile phone repairs and aquaculture reflects sectors that continue to offer significant entrepreneurial opportunities for young Nigerians. As more Nigerians acquire practical skills and establish successful enterprises, the country stands to benefit from increased productivity, higher employment levels and stronger local manufacturing capacity.
The commissioning of the NASENI Skills Acquisition Centre in Owerri therefore represents more than another government project. It reflects a broader national strategy aimed at empowering citizens through knowledge, practical skills and innovation. For thousands of young Nigerians expected to pass through its classrooms and workshops in the years ahead, the centre offers not only technical education but also the prospect of economic independence, entrepreneurship and improved livelihoods.
As NASENI continues to deepen investments in science, engineering and technology-driven empowerment across the country; initiatives such as the Owerri Skills Acquisition Centre underscore the Agency’s growing role in supporting Nigeria’s industrial aspirations through practical solutions that place people at the centre of development.