Flying a drone is one thing. Keeping a fleet running, repairing it and building parts at home is another. The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has opened an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle training centre in Kaduna, and the message from officials was clear: Nigeria wants to rely less on foreign suppliers for defence and security technology.
Why self-reliance, not equipment
Defence Minister Gen Christopher Musa (retd.), represented by Air Vice Marshal Adeniran Ademuwagun of the Air Force Institute of Technology, said that technological self-reliance goes beyond buying equipment. It takes the knowledge, skills and local capacity to operate, maintain and sustain it. He warned that heavy dependence on foreign technology can create security vulnerabilities, especially when technical information and maintenance remain in outside hands.
He described UAVs as useful for surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and infrastructure protection, and added that their value depends on trained personnel and proper upkeep. That makes Nigeria UAV technology as much a people issue as a hardware one.
What the centre will do
NASENI’s chief executive, Khalil Halilu, said the centre is designed to build local technological capacity through practical training, equipment development, assembly and maintenance. In his words, equipment alone can’t industrialise a nation, because every productive investment needs people who know how it works and how to keep it working. The facility is meant to give young Nigerians practical skills for jobs, new businesses and home-grown solutions. If this path interests you, browsing tech jobs shows how much demand exists for technical skills like these.
Skills, women and local jobs
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani called the project an investment in human capital. At the groundbreaking for the NASENI Skill Development Centre in Rigachikun, he said 4,050 people graduated in August from the state’s vocational institute, trained in 14 trades from solar installation to mechatronics and fashion design. The institute has accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education.
He stressed inclusion too. At least 60% of the UAV centre’s participants are women, which he called a deliberate statement that Nigeria’s future in aviation and technology should be shaped by women. He also said UAV technology can support agriculture, security operations and infrastructure monitoring.
A shared effort
Private-sector partner Rotimi Makonuola said the centre would widen UAV training and strengthen the technical workforce. Stakeholders called for ongoing cooperation among government bodies, technical organizations and companies to promote local innovation and cut reliance on imports. For anyone following IT industry news, the Kaduna drone centre is another sign of Nigeria’s growing push for homegrown technology.
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