On Monday, July 21, 2025, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, successfully trained and empowered 250 youths from her constituency with in-demand digital and technical skills to foster self-reliance and bridge technology gaps. The program, held at her residence in Kogi Central, included drone security and environmental sustainability training for 80 beneficiaries, advanced welding and fabrication for 50, renewable energy installation for another 50, and data analytics and digital transformation for 70. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan described the initiative as a strategic effort to address the widening technology and skills gap, stating, “Our people deserve to be empowered with the very best of technology for self-reliance.” She highlighted drone technology’s potential in sectors like mining, agriculture, and infrastructure, inspired by its use in countries such as South Africa and Ethiopia, and distributed 80 DJI Neo drones, compliant with Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority regulations, to individuals and ten tertiary institutions, including Federal University, Lokoja, and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, to enhance learning.
The senator emphasized the broader applications of drones beyond photography, such as in construction, oil and gas, and environmental monitoring, positioning Nigeria as a leader in innovative capacity-building. This initiative follows her recent launch of two smart markets with 160 shops in Kogi Central and the distribution of 700 computers to students at Abdul-Azeez Attah Memorial College, Okene. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan reiterated her commitment to equipping her constituents with modern technologies and innovation-driven opportunities, underscoring that they “deserve the best” to thrive in a competitive, tech-driven world.
Leave a Reply