- Former Governor Aminu Masari stated Nigeria can’t achieve economic progress with heavy import reliance, speaking at the Nigeria Talents Exploration Challenge launch
- Masari advocated for local production and youth empowerment through technical skills, citing his past initiatives that trained over 10,000 youths
Former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, has stressed that Nigeria cannot achieve significant economic growth while relying heavily on imports.
Masari made this statement on Saturday at the Nigeria Talents Exploration Challenge (NTEC) media launch in Abuja. The event, organized in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), aims to develop a national competition to highlight exceptional youth talents.
He emphasized the need for local production to strengthen Nigeria’s economy.
“You can never make progress with importation. Your currency can never have meaning with importation; your energy needs will never be affordable if they are dependent on what comes from outside,” he said.
Masari, who also serves as the Board Chairman of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), advocated for youth empowerment through technical and vocational skills.
He recalled initiatives from his tenure that trained over 10,000 young people in various skills.
“The idea of talent hunt and empowering the youth came about because we recognized that they are the future,” he added.
National Coordinator of NTEC, Faisal Rafindadi, highlighted that the challenge aligns with the Federal Government’s goal of fostering economic growth through technical and vocational education.
“Our partnership with NBTE underscores our commitment to excellence in technical education. We aim to create a platform that inspires and empowers Nigerian youths to become leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs,” he stated.