A civic group has commended President Bola Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani for their support for the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), noting that its clean-energy, skills-acquisition and technology-innovation initiatives are driving sustainable development and youth empowerment across the country.
The group, known as the Tinubu-Uba Sani Consolidation Front (TUSCOF), described the 500-beneficiary empowerment programme, drone training centre and skills development facility as significant investments in grassroots development.
TUSCOF commended the President and Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani over the partnership with NASENI to expand access to clean energy, technical skills and emerging technologies in Kaduna State.
In a statement, the National Chairman of the group, Malam Mohammed Jalal, said it particularly applauded the distribution of solar home systems, clean cooking stoves and support packs to 500 residents under NASENI’s Sustainable Empowerment Programme, describing the intervention as a practical demonstration of how science, technology and government collaboration can improve everyday living conditions.
Jalal also noted that the programme’s coverage of all 23 local government areas of Kaduna State and the inclusion of 450 women, representing 90% of the beneficiaries, underscored its grassroots reach and commitment to inclusive development.
He said the provision of solar home systems would give beneficiary households access to alternative energy for domestic use, while the clean cooking stoves could help reduce fuel consumption and exposure to cooking smoke, particularly among women.
He said: “We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the policy direction and support for initiatives that bring the benefits of science and engineering closer to ordinary Nigerians.”
“We equally appreciate Governor Uba Sani for his commitment to partnerships that translate development priorities into practical interventions for the people of Kaduna State,” he added.
“The decision to reach 500 residents across all 23 local government areas, with women accounting for 90% of the beneficiaries, gives this intervention an important social and economic dimension,” Jalal said.
He added that it is about improving household conditions, expanding access to cleaner energy and creating opportunities for more inclusive development.
The TUSCOF Chairman also highlighted the establishment of the NASENI Skills Development Centre at Rigachikun, in Igabi Local Government Area, describing it as an important step towards strengthening vocational and technical education in the state.
He said the facility could help equip young people with practical, industry-relevant competencies, improve their prospects for employment and encourage entrepreneurship in technology-driven sectors.
Jalal further welcomed the NASCAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Training Centre, noting that specialised drone training could open new opportunities in agriculture, infrastructure monitoring, mapping, environmental management and other emerging fields.
He observed that Nigeria’s development ambitions would increasingly depend on its capacity to build indigenous technical expertise, encourage innovation and prepare young people to participate in the expanding global technology economy.
He said the establishment of a drone training facility in Kaduna is particularly significant because it creates an avenue for developing local expertise in a field with growing applications across several sectors.
“We must continue to invest in the knowledge, skills and technical capacity required to compete in a rapidly changing world,” he said.
The forum also welcomed the reported participation of women in the drone-training initiative, stressing that women should have equal opportunities to acquire specialised skills and participate in emerging areas of science, engineering and technology.
TUSCOF said the combination of household clean-energy support, vocational training and advanced technology development gives the NASENI-Kaduna partnership a broader development significance beyond the immediate distribution of equipment.
The forum, however, urged the relevant authorities to sustain the initiative through effective monitoring, transparent beneficiary selection, proper maintenance of distributed equipment and continuous expansion of technical training opportunities.
It also encouraged greater collaboration among federal agencies, state governments, private-sector operators and development institutions to ensure that investments in science and engineering translate into measurable improvements in livelihoods, productivity and job creation.
Jalal reaffirmed TUSCOF’s commitment to recognising and publicising development initiatives that advance inclusive growth, technological innovation and improved living standards nationwide.
