The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) under the Presidency has embarked on a nationwide empowerment and job creation for youths through new technologies to develop their artisanal skills.
This development is predicated on the directive of the federal government to stop foreigners’ artisans from coming into Nigeria to take over the jobs belonging to Nigerians.
In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, about 100 youths selected from the state are currently benefiting from the federal government’s youths empowerment programme aimed at giving new skills and modernising activities of artisans in the plumbing vocation.
NASENI, by its mandate and scope of operation is the Nigerian only purpose-built agency designed to conduct developmental work in the areas of manufacturing, and as such, it is capable of coordinating the proliferation of technologies developed either within or outside of its centers including patents obtained. Technologies developed in the areas of spares, components and systems engineering are to be transferred to entrepreneurs for the production of goods and services.
In Ibadan, the agency harps on how Nigerian youth can benefit from new technology with state-of-the-art plumbing equipment, tools and diagnostic kits worth several millions of naira, which were handed over to 100 youths in continuation of President Buhari’s directive to NASENI to give Nigerian youths new skills, carry out retraining exercises in line with modern techniques in their different vocations.
A similar exercise kicked off in Kebbi State recently in August, where youths from the area were given training, modern equipment and tools in modern farming.
The executive vice chairman/CE NASENI, Engr. Mohammed Sani Haruna, while flagging off the training in Ibadan on Tuesday, said the agency was carrying out President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive. He said, “The time had come to put an end to the habit of giving out technical jobs meant for Nigerians to foreigners or migrants from neighbouring countries” hence President Buhari’s approval of the on-going special training for Plumbers operating in Ibadan, Oyo State.”
With the training as a hands-on empowerment programme, Professor Haruna explained, “President Buhari’s intention is the prosperity of the youths and job satisfaction so they could take their plumbing work seriously and move to the highest level of efficiency and professionalism in plumbing.”
The training programme targets inputting in the trainees modern skills, acquisition and training on modern methods of plumbing and its applications. The youths selected from Oyo State are benefiting from the first phase of the programme targeted at those who are already in the profession of plumbing. The capacity building focuses on reskilling the plumbers to handle installations and maintenance of plumbing works with modern techniques, tools, diagnostics and equipment.
According to the study carried out which led to the presidential directive; it was observed in Ibadan metropolis that delivery of plumbing works had become problematic because residents and house owners are experiencing poor jobs and finishing of plumbing works. The training programme was therefore targeted at addressing such challenges for professionals and also to make plumbing work become knowledge-based for youths and in tune with modern methods in plumbing and further upgrade of their skills.
Speaking also at the event, the chairman of the occasion and member representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency who doubles as chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Science Research Institutes, Honourable Musiliudeen Olaide Akinremi (Jagaban) said the Ibadan citizens were grateful to President Buhari and NASENI for the intervention to upgrade the skills of plumbers in Ibadan and also giving new tools and technology for them to work with.
He said the youths and their empowerment had become the most critical socio-economic programme for sustenance of any modern economy and also a glimpse at “the idea of what the future of the country will looks like.”
He also disclosed that the youths empowerment programme was central to his legislative agenda, adding that the Ibadan North Federal constituency zone was lucky for being the first beneficiary of the programme by the Federal Government in South west.
He charged the trainees to use the equipment and tools to help themselves to increase their efficiency in the course of carrying out their tasks on site.
The presidential mandate to NASENI in the on-going exercise is to move round the 36 States of the country to empower 100 youths in each location on such areas and skills where it is observed that critical vocational skill lacks efficiency and therefore needing upgrades, new skills acquisition, tools and equipment to advance such identified vocation.
The list of new tools and equipment handed over to the plumbers include: PPR machine, drilling machine, pressure testing machine, plum, plunger, mechanical tools box, sets of spanners, pipe wrench, punch, set of chisels, ratchet socket spanner box and gas piler. other safety kits given to the trainees include safety shoes, eye goggles, and mechanical hand gloves amongst others.
However, speaking on current affairs programme ‘Money Radio’ on LEADERSHIP Podcast on Wednesday, an expert in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and public affairs analyst, Hanniel Jafaru, expressed concerns about the sustainability of the project.
He said that Nigeria started having a crisis in the sector when the nation abandoned the institutions that provided technical skills for the country in the past. “If we must achieve success in this project, then it should not end in workshops and conferences but building sustained skills to strategic policies. We must also revive those technical institutions.”
He also called for “a comprehensive funding” of the programme, which he said is capable of engaging thousands of the youth and reducing unemployment.
