The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) says the agency is promoting a competitive workforce ready for self-employment generation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

Prof. Muhammad Haruna, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, stated this in an interview with newsmen shortly after the groundbreaking and foundation laying of an ultramodern skills acquisition centre at Bagudo, Bagudo Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Thursday.

He said the agency, going by the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, was constructing similar centres in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with a view to training youths and women not only to become self-employed but also employers of labour.

According to him, such centres to be established across the country were designed to train more technology-based professionals for the growth and development of Nigeria.

He listed those to be trained in the centre to include; craftsmen and women, technicians and technologists, scientists and engineers as well as other technology-based professionals aimed at meeting the challenges of technology and filling the extant gaps created by the shortage of artisans, craftsmen and women.

“The centres when established will be adequately equipped with basics to cater for modern training of the competitive workforce. Graduates of the centre would be ready for self-employment generation and entrepreneurship,” he said.

Haruna commended Buhari for his commitment to transformative measures to develop tech-based Nigeria leading to the emergence of a new NASENI.

The agency’s boss also appreciated the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State and other collaborative stakeholders for their efforts to actualise the centre.