AWC MDA Desk
The Federal Government has launched the NASENI FutureMakers Initiative, a nationwide programme aimed at identifying and empowering young innovators aged 5 to 16, as part of a strategic push to secure Nigeria’s innovation-driven future.
The initiative was unveiled by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, who described early investment in young minds as critical to Nigeria’s long-term technological and economic development.
Speaking at the launch, Halilu said the FutureMakers Initiative is designed to discover talent early, nurture creativity, and build practical problem-solving skills among children and teenagers across the country. According to him, Nigeria cannot afford to wait until tertiary education to develop innovators, stressing that deliberate exposure at a young age is key to global competitiveness.
He explained that the programme draws inspiration from successful global models such as the FIRST Robotics programme in the United States, TeenTech in the United Kingdom, and India’s Atal Innovation Mission. These models, he noted, have proven that structured innovation programmes for children can drive technological leadership and economic growth.
The NASENI FutureMakers Initiative will be implemented through NASENI institutes nationwide, offering participants hands-on learning experiences in science, engineering, technology, and creative innovation. The programme is expected to blend classroom learning with practical experimentation, encouraging curiosity, teamwork, and inventive thinking.
The launch aligns with the Federal Government’s broader agenda to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, deepen local innovation capacity, and prepare a future workforce capable of solving national challenges.
With the FutureMakers Initiative, the Federal Government says it is laying a strong foundation for sustainable development, positioning Nigeria’s children not just as future users of technology, but as creators and innovators who will drive the nation’s progress in the years ahead.
