By Our Correspondent
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, has empowered 300 people in Anambra State as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
While 200 women were given bags of rice and energy -saving cooking stoves, 100 others are currently receiving a five-day training on POP and electrical installation and maintenance in Onitsha.
A Director in NASENI, Dr Chika Eze Anyanaso, who represented the Chief Executive and Vice Chancellor of the organization, Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said during the empowerment programme at Abatete in Idemili South local government area of Anambra State, that the exercise is in honour of Hon Ifeanyi Ibezi, who was a member of the House of Representatives in the 9th national assembly.
Each of the 200 women, who were drawn from the various local government areas of Anambra State, received a bag of rice and a special energy saving cooking stove that does not emit carbon dioxide and other does not pollute the environment, as well as cash.
Anyanaso explained that the skills acquisition training is on new method of electrical installation maintenance, as well as on POP installation, adding that the target was electricians and artisans who were already familiar with electrical works.
She said that after the training, the beneficiaries would be provided with modern tools and start-up grants and they were also taught how to maintain the tools.
She said: “The NASENI monitoring and evaluation department would ensure the sustenance of the equipment and ensure that the beneficiaries do not sell them.
“At NASENI, our mandate extends beyond research, laboratories and technology development. We are committed to ensuring that the solutions we create reach households and communities, improve productivity, reduce hardship and expand economic opportunities.
“For us, empowerment must go beyond the distribution of items. Real empowerment should reduce costs, improve productivity, strengthen capacity and give people greater control over their economic future.
“The true impact will be measured by what happens after today: how these items are used, the expenses they reduce and the families whose circumstances improve”.
She said that NASENI will continue working to ensure that Nigeria’s technological advancement is something the people can see, use and benefit from in their everyday lives.
She encouraged the beneficiaries to take the opportunity seriously and let the empowerment contribute to a greater story of productivity and prosperity.
“I urge you to use these items responsibly and productively. Let the Solar Home System support your household or enterprise. Let the Clean Cook stove improve your health and reduce your cooking expenses. Let the Support Pack provide relief that enables you to redirect limited resources towards other productive needs.
“Our ambition is to create a multiplier effect in which one empowered individual supports a household, one productive household strengthens a community, and one intervention generates lasting benefits”, she stated.
