Former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, emphasized the importance of reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imports to achieve meaningful economic progress. Speaking at the launch of the Nigeria Talents Exploration Challenge (NTEC) in Abuja.
According to the News Agen y of Nigeria, Masari highlighted the negative impact of excessive importation on currency value and energy affordability. He stressed the need for youth empowerment through technical and vocational training, recalling initiatives during his tenure that trained over 10,000 young people.
The NTEC, organized in collaboration with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), aims to discover and nurture exceptional talents among Nigerian youth. Faisal Rafindadi, NTEC National Coordinator, affirmed the initiative’s alignment with the Federal Government’s vision to promote economic growth through technical education.
NBTE Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, highlighted Africa’s untapped potential in technical skills and the need to bridge the gap between research and industry. He expressed optimism about Nigeria’s membership in World Skills International, enabling young talents to compete globally.
The event unveiled the NTEC logo and announced that winners would represent Nigeria at the 2025 World Skills Africa competition in Zambia and the 2026 World Skills International in South Korea. Open to Nigerians aged 10 to 40, the competition covers categories such as automotive modelling, arts and crafts, ICT, construction, and literary arts.
