NASENI: Practical Skills, Not Certificates Alone, Will Open Doors To Jobs

National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has called for a stronger emphasis on practical skills acquisition, innovation and entrepreneurship, warning that academic certificates alone may not guarantee employment or economic independence in Nigeria's changing labour market.

The agency's position underscores the need to equip young Nigerians with competencies they can translate into productive work, viable businesses and sustainable livelihoods.

NASENI, which is responsible for advancing indigenous science, engineering and technological development, has increasingly incorporated practical training and entrepreneurship into its empowerment initiatives.

Under its skills development programmes, young people and women have received training in technical and creative fields, alongside equipment intended to help them apply their knowledge and establish businesses.

From Training To Economic Independence

One of the agency's approaches is to connect skills acquisition with the tools needed to turn newly acquired knowledge into income-generating activities.

At a three-day empowerment programme held in Ile-Ife, Osun State, in August 2026, beneficiaries received training in advanced photography and drone operations, shoemaking, CCTV and inverter installation, and advanced tailoring.

The programme also provided relevant work equipment to participants, giving them an opportunity to put their training into practice rather than depend solely on certificates as evidence of competence.

NASENI Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Khalil Halilu, has maintained that empowerment initiatives should produce tangible economic outcomes, including sustainable businesses, employment opportunities and the transfer of technical knowledge.

The agency's approach reflects a broader effort to bridge the gap between acquiring knowledge and using it to generate economic value.

Addressing Nigeria's Employment Challenge

Nigeria's employment challenge has continued to raise questions about the relationship between formal education, workplace readiness and the skills demanded by employers.

Although academic qualifications remain important, practical competence can help job seekers demonstrate their ability to perform tasks, solve problems and meet workplace expectations.

Technical and vocational training also offers an alternative route for people seeking careers in specialised trades, technology and service-based enterprises.

For young Nigerians unable to secure conventional salaried employment, acquiring marketable skills may provide opportunities to become self-employed, serve local communities and eventually employ others.

However, effective skills development requires more than classroom instruction. Access to equipment, start-up capital, reliable infrastructure, markets and continued professional development can determine whether training translates into lasting economic benefits.

Building Indigenous Capacity Through Technology

NASENI's skills development initiatives align with its wider mandate to strengthen Nigeria's technological capabilities and encourage the commercial application of locally developed knowledge.

By equipping beneficiaries with practical expertise, the agency seeks to support entrepreneurship, improve service delivery and expand participation in productive economic activities.

The emphasis on practical competence also highlights the importance of stronger collaboration among government agencies, educational institutions, industries and private-sector organisations to ensure that training programmes respond to real market needs.

For Nigeria to make meaningful progress in tackling unemployment, education and skills development must increasingly prepare people not only to obtain qualifications but also to create solutions, deliver services and contribute to economic growth.

The central challenge, therefore, is to ensure that skills acquired through training can be converted into productive opportunities, sustainable livelihoods and jobs for others.