NASENI Empowers 300 Oyo Youths, Women With Home Solar Systems, Clean Energy Cookstoves
By Rashidat O. Okunlade| Lagos
Clean Energy Meets Inclusive Empowerment
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has empowered 300 youths and women in Oyo State with Home Solar Systems and Clean Energy Cookstoves under its Sustainable Empowerment Programme (NSEP), held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
The empowerment, which targeted vulnerable groups including persons with disabilities across all nooks and crannies of the state, saw over 250 women receive NASENI Clean Cookstoves and 50 men receive NASENI Solar Home Systems and Support Packs to reduce energy costs and boost livelihoods.
The Distribution at a Glance
Beneficiary Group Item Received Number
Women NASENI Clean Cookstoves 250+
Men NASENI Solar Home Systems & Support Packs 50
Total Beneficiaries — 300 Youths
Halilu’s Vision: Science That Serves People
Speaking at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, represented by the Director, Information, New Media and Protocol, Mr. Segun Ayeoyenikan, said the initiative embodies the new NASENI vision.
According to him, “science, engineering and technology must deliver practical benefits that Nigerians can see, use and experience in their everyday lives.”
Mr. Halilu noted that the Agency has moved beyond laboratories, stating:
“Our mandate goes beyond research, laboratories, and technology development. It includes ensuring these technologies reach households, entrepreneurs, and communities, where they can reduce hardship, improve productivity, and create sustainable economic opportunities.”
He added that through NSEP, “NASENI is connecting innovation with inclusion,” stressing that:
“Our objective is not simply to distribute items. Meaningful empowerment must help people reduce costs, improve their productive capacity, earn income and exercise greater control over their economic future.”
A National Programme: Building on Previous Interventions
The NASENI boss explained that the intervention in Oyo State builds on similar programmes in Kano, Osun, Abia, Lagos, Anambra, and Benue States.
The programme is anchored on NASENI’s 3Cs principles of Creation, Collaboration and Commercialisation, as part of its contribution to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Legislative Endorsement: Investing in Human Capacity
In his remarks, the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Sen. Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, represented by Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe, Director-General of his Campaign Council, described the programme as:
“A commendable and tremendous plan of translating science and technology into practical solutions that will improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians.”
He said the distribution of cookstoves and solar systems:
“Is an approach to empowerment that goes beyond financial assistance but promoting cleaner energy, healthier household, environmental sustainability and a good environment for all and sundry.”
He added that the programme is “not merely an empowerment program, it’s an investment in human capacity, and investing in human capacity is investing in nation building.”
Strategic Implications: Clean Energy as a Development Tool
Analysts say NASENI’s NSEP represents a significant shift in how government agencies approach empowerment, moving from cash transfers to productive asset distribution that addresses both energy poverty and economic vulnerability.
Several factors underpin this approach:
The Energy Poverty Challenge
Millions of Nigerian households lack access to clean, affordable energy. By distributing solar systems and clean cookstoves, NASENI is addressing a critical development gap.
The Health Dividend
Traditional biomass cooking exposes women and children to harmful indoor air pollution. Clean cookstoves reduce respiratory risks while lowering fuel costs.
The Economic Empowerment Angle
Solar home systems enable small businesses to operate beyond daylight hours, extending productivity and income-generating opportunities.
The Inclusion Imperative
By targeting persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups, NASENI is ensuring that the benefits of technological innovation reach those who need them most.
The Scalability Question
With similar programmes already held in six other states, NSEP is demonstrating a replicable model for national rollout, one that could be scaled to reach millions of Nigerians.
The Road Ahead
As Nigeria pursues its energy transition and economic diversification goals, initiatives like NSEP will remain central to bridging the gap between innovation and impact.
For NASENI, the Oyo State intervention is another step in its journey to become a truly people-centred agency, one that measures success not by the sophistication of its laboratories, but by the lives it transforms.
For the 300 beneficiaries in Oyo State, the cookstoves and solar systems represent more than equipment. They represent lower costs, cleaner energy, and a pathway to greater economic control.
As Mr. Halilu put it: “NASENI is connecting innovation with inclusion.”
This special report is part of ROTAMediaNews’ ongoing coverage of clean energy, youth empowerment, and sustainable development in Nigeria. Follow us for exclusive insights and in-depth analysis.
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