As part of efforts to drive sustainable development and enhance the capacity of Nigerian youths in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration, the Director General and Chief Executive, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr. Matthew Adepoju, has emphasised the importance of local content development in building a resilient telecommunications infrastructure in the country.
Dr. Adepoju made this known during the official flag off of the Pilot stream of the NASRDA/Grassroots Bridge Builders (GBB) Skill Acquisition Development Project 2025, held at the Agency’s Headquarters in Abuja.
The NASRDA boss, who commended the planning committee for its dedication and thorough organisation of the programme, explained that the training initiative is designed to empower Nigerian youths with the necessary technical skills required for effective maintenance and sustainability of the country’s telecommunications systems.
According to him, youth empowerment remains the bedrock of nation building, and it has become imperative for government at all levels to prioritise youth development, for a prosperous and self-reliant society.
Dr. Adepoju noted that the empowerment initiative is tailored to actualise the Presidential Executive Order 5, which seeks to promote indigenous expertise and local content development in all sectors of the Nigerian economy.
He urged all participants to take the training seriously and maximise the opportunity to become agents of national transformation.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Interdepartmental Planning Committee, Dr. Haruna Mohammed, expressed appreciation to the DG for his unalloyed support and commended the committee members for the successful kick-off of the Pilot programme.
He stated that the initiative is aligns with the three-point agenda of NASRDA’s DG and aims to create a sustainable and impactful platform for continuous youth capacity development in the country.
He encouraged participants to remain committed and dedicated to the programme.
Speaking earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Grassroots Bridge Builders (GBB), Engr. Ibrahim Igoche, described the initiative as timely, noting that it presents a strategic opportunity to take young people off the streets by equipping them with employable skills.
He applauded Dr. Adepoju for his visionary leadership and for embracing the noble cause, which he said will not only empower the youths but also inculcate a new culture of discipline, responsibility, and technical excellence.
Below are pictures from the event for your viewing pleasure.
Daniel Abdullahi
Media and Corporate Communications


