Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, and the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, have inaugurated a new drone training centre to strengthen the country’s fight against insecurity. The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) formally commissioned the facility to end the overdependence on foreign suppliers and build local expertise.
The multi-level intervention is designed to drive economic growth while improving the operational capacity of security agencies.
Governor Sani stated that the centre will drive national growth by equipping young Nigerians, particularly women who make up 60 per cent of the participants, with high-demand tech skills. He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to science and innovation as central to building a skilled workforce.
“Together, these initiatives advance a central responsibility of government: equipping citizens with the skills, resources and opportunities to build secure livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to national development. Access must be integral to that ambition. Women, persons with disabilities and young people in underserved communities must have meaningful opportunities to participate.”
Governor Sani also stated that the Sustainable Empowerment Programme will provide 500 beneficiaries across 23 local government areas with solar home systems, clean cookstoves, and financial assistance. He added that the Kaduna State Government provided the required site and remains fully committed to facilitating the project.
The governor also restated his commitment to youth empowerment, confirming that 4,050 students recently graduated from the Kaduna State Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development across three campuses.
The governor also revealed that the National Board for Technical Education recently granted full accreditation to the state’s vocational institute, validating its certification process.
Representing the Minister of Defence, the Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology, Air Vice Marshal Adeniran Ademuwagun, warned that over-reliance on foreign suppliers exposes the country to serious security vulnerabilities. He stressed that depending on external partners for technical information and equipment maintenance limits the operational capacity of frontline troops.
Air Vice Marshal Ademuwagun insisted that locally trained personnel will improve equipment availability, strengthen intelligence gathering, and enhance the success rate of joint operations.
The Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Khalil Halilu, described the UAV Training Centre as a strategic investment in indigenous technological advancement. Halilu explained that the deployment of drone technology will not only support security networks but also improve agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure monitoring while creating new jobs for Nigerian youths.
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