The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) in collaboration with Grassroots Bridge Builders (GBB), has emphasised the need for harnessing youth potential through skill acquisition for national growth.
The group said this on Thursday in Abuja during a one-day summit with the theme “Harnessing Youth Potential: Skill Acquisition and Engagement for National Transformation”.
The summit was in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event also featured the unveiling of the GBB e-learning platform, the award of certificates to 10,000 trained participants.
Also,the launch of the GBB National Advocacy Against Drug Abuse in partnership with NDLEA, and the official unveiling of Project 4+4 for Tinubu 2027.
Director-General of NASRDA, Dr Matthew Adepoju, represented by the Director of Corporate Communications, Dr Felix Ale, described the initiative as timely and visionary, noting that it spoke directly to youth empowerment.
“Skills acquisition is more than a tool for employment; it is a source of empowerment, dignity and transformation.
“When young people are equipped with relevant skills, they become architects of their own destiny, contributors to national progress and custodians of innovation.”
Adepoju added that space science and technology were practical tools capable of improving agriculture, enhancing communication, strengthening disaster management and creating opportunities for innovation.
He said NASRDA was committed to partnerships that translated research into tangible value for ordinary Nigerians.
Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, rtd., Chairman of NDLEA, represented by Executive Secretary of the NDLEA, Mr Shedrack Haruna, said the agency welcomed partnerships that strengthened the fight against drug abuse, particularly among youths.
He said it was important to build a Nigeria with youths free of drugs abuse.
“Our message is simple, don’t take drugs, don’t traffic drugs, don’t cultivate, don’t manufacture and don’t distribute drugs,” Marwa said.
According to him, we are open to collaborating with organisations like GBB that can reach the youths to ensure that this message get to the grassroots.
Chief Executive Officer of GBB, Mr Ibrahim Igoche, said the initiative was designed to complement government efforts at lifting millions of young Nigerians out of poverty through skills development and structured engagement.
Also, President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, described Nigeria’s youth population as a powerful but underutilised demographic dividend, warning that failure to properly harness it fuels crime and underdevelopment.
“If we don’t build the youth, we turn potential into frustration,” Okaba said.
He urged the GBB to avoid politicising empowerment programmes and to focus on selecting participants with genuine interest and drive.
He stressed that training should translate into measurable impact, as government only provided the platform hence, growth must start with the individual.
Mr Isaac Apeh, who was trained in telecommunications maintenance, operation and installation, said the programme demystified the sector for him.
“Before now, telecommunications felt like rocket science, but the training broke everything down and I have greatly benefited,” Apeh said.
He called for the expansion of the programme in order to reach all the 36 states of the federation.
Another trainee, Mrs Blessing Chima, said she was excited over the new skills acquired, saying the training had boosted her confidence and prospects.
Truthng reports that the summit concluded with a call for sustained collaboration among government agencies, civil society and communities to ensure youth empowerment initiatives deliver lasting socio-economic impact.
