No fewer than 250 indigenes of Asaga, Ohafia in Abia State has benefited from the Sustainable Empowerment Programme organized by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).
According to a statement by Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, director of Information, the agency through NSEP is providing relevant skills, tools and renewable technologies including NASENI Home Solar Solutions (solar fan, panel, power bank), Cookstoves, etc. that would help beneficiaries become more productive, build sustainable livelihoods and participate meaningfully in the growing innovation-driven economy.
In his welcome address, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said that the Agency’s presence in Abia State is particularly significant as Abia has long been recognised for its enterprise, creativity, manufacturing culture and the determination of its people to create value.
While appreciating the beneficiaries and everyone present at the flag-off ceremony for their patience and understanding, Mr. Halilu noted that NASENI’s mandate is ultimately about people. “We believe that science, technology and engineering must move beyond laboratories and institutions and translate into practical solutions that improve livelihoods, create opportunities and strengthen communities. That is the thinking behind NSEP.”
He said, “Through this programme, we are taking NASENI directly to Nigerians, providing relevant skills, tools and technologies that can help people become more productive, build sustainable livelihoods and participate meaningfully in Nigeria’s growing innovation-driven economy. Our presence here in Abia State is particularly significant.
“Abia has long been recognised for its enterprise, creativity, manufacturing culture and the determination of its people to create value. These qualities strongly align with the new NASENI we are building: an institution focused on Creation, Collaboration and Commercialisation. Under our strategic direction, we are moving from research for its own sake to solutions that people can use, businesses can adopt and industries can scale.”
According to him, NSEP is an important part of that journey as innovation only becomes meaningful when its impact reaches the people. “To our beneficiaries, the support you receive today is not simply a handout. It is an opportunity and an investment in your productive capacity. We expect you to put it to work, create value from it, improve your livelihoods and, where possible, create opportunities for others. We are also committed to measuring the impact of these interventions.”
He, however, emphasized that for NASENI, success is not simply the number of programmes organised or items distributed, but believes that Success is the number of lives improved, businesses strengthened, jobs supported and communities made more productive, he stressed.
In his goodwill message, the Managing Director, Ministry of Finance Incorporated) MOFI), Dr. Armstrong Ume Takang, appreciated NASENI for bringing NSEP to his hometown, adding that the programme is an assurance that the present administration is doing everything possible to ensure that Nigerians feel the impact of good governance, create job opportunities and self-reliance.
He, however, called for further relationship with NASENI to enable the collaboration which according to him has started with the flag-off ceremony of NSEP in Ohafia, to enable the youth from Abia state improve more on the potentials they already have.
