The Maigari of Lokoja, His Royal Highness Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Kabir, has called on the Federal Ministry of Education to revive and rehabilitate technical colleges across Nigeria to strengthen skills acquisition and address youth unemployment.
The traditional ruler also urged the federal and state ministries of works to establish dedicated skills acquisition departments to train young Nigerians in practical trades and equip them with the skills needed to earn a living.
Kabir made the call while delivering a keynote address at the flag-off of a five-day intensive skills acquisition training programme for 120 youths in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
The training, organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), is focused on modern methods of electrical installation and maintenance.
The monarch said technical skills were central to economic growth and called on governments to expand opportunities for human capital development beyond existing initiatives.
“The economy of Nigeria is driven by those Nigerians who possess technical skills, and so, government need to create more opportunities for human capital development beyond what it is doing,” he said.
He urged the 120 participants to take full advantage of the five-day programme by acquiring practical knowledge that could improve their employment prospects and enable them to establish their own businesses.
Kabir’s call for the revival of technical colleges comes amid continuing efforts to equip young people with vocational and technical skills that can support self-employment, entrepreneurship and national development.
NASENI Targets Practical Skills, Youth Empowerment
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the training was designed to equip 120 youths in Lokoja with practical and marketable skills in electrical installation and maintenance.
Halilu, who was represented at the event by NASENI’s Research Director, Professor Abdulmalik Ibrahim, said the initiative reflected the agency’s commitment to human capacity development and the youth empowerment objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He explained that the programme was intended to translate science, technology and engineering into practical solutions that could benefit households, businesses and communities.
“His vision to NASENI is clear: take science, technology and engineering out of laboratories and into Nigerian homes, businesses and communities. This empowerment in Lokoja is direct evidence,” Halilu said.
He added that the agency would continue to promote job creation, business growth and community development through its three-part approach of Creation, Collaboration and Commercialisation, known as the 3Cs.
The NASENI chairman assured participants that they would receive starter kits at the end of the programme to help them put their newly acquired skills into practice and begin their own businesses.
“At the end of the programme, you will receive starter kits to help you begin your own businesses. Your success is our success,” he said.
Halilu also commended the facilitators for sharing their expertise and the Local Organising Committee for its efforts in preparing the training.
The programme is expected to conclude on Friday, October 23, 2026, with a closing ceremony and the distribution of starter packs to participants.
The initiative is aimed at improving access to vocational training and helping young people develop practical skills that can create pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.
