The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State, have announced plans to collaborate on bolstering Nigeria’s digital economy and creating employment opportunities for millions of young people.
Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NASENI, revealed this during a visit by participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 46 of NIPSS to the Agency on Monday, April 15, 2024.
Halilu expressed his delight that NASENI was recognized as one of the federal government’s agencies capable of empowering Nigerian youths and driving the country towards self-sufficiency in manufacturing and digital technology.
He emphasized the importance of strengthening the capacity of key stakeholders in Nigeria to access, adopt, and scale up technologies, stressing the need for an enabling policy environment, access to finance, appropriate incentives, and innovation capacities.
Prof. Ayo Omotayo, the Director-General of NIPSS, who led the delegation, highlighted the potential for empowering Nigerian youth through the translation of NASENI innovations into finished products. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between the two organizations in achieving this goal.
Omotayo noted that NIPSS participants were eager to understand NASENI’s vision, mission, and roles, particularly in the context of job creation and youth empowerment in the digital economy. He emphasized the significance of infrastructure, especially in manufacturing industries, and underscored NASENI’s pivotal role in this regard.
In conclusion, Omotayo expressed the institute’s commitment to working closely with NASENI to explore avenues for transferring technological innovations into effective job creation and youth empowerment initiatives.