The Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Suleiman Halilu, is facing mounting scrutiny over the agency’s latest empowerment rollout in Kano State — with critics raising hard questions about fairness, intent, and the use of public resources.
“Why Did Halilu Choose Kano Again?”
The controversy is simple but explosive:
Why Kano State?
At a time when multiple states across Northern Nigeria are battling unemployment, poverty, and lack of access to technical training, observers are questioning why NASENI continues to channel high-value programmes into one location.
Critics are now openly asking whether this decision reflects:
A higher level of nepotism
Selective deployment of federal opportunities
Possible misuse or uneven allocation of public funds
There is currently no publicly available evidence confirming wrongdoing, but the perception alone is fueling distrust.
From Sokoto State to Taraba State and beyond, many regions face deeper structural challenges than Kano — yet remain sidelined from similar high-profile interventions.
This has intensified criticism that federal empowerment initiatives are not being evenly distributed, raising concerns about national inclusivity.
Empowerment or Political Optics?
Training of 50 women in solar technology
Skill acquisition in welding, phone repairs, and food processing
Distribution of STEM kits to schools
But critics argue the scale is too limited to justify the publicity, and without transparency, risks being seen as:
A media showcase
A politically convenient intervention
Or worse, a pattern of selective development
Policy watchers insist that Halilu and NASENI must now answer critical questions:
What criteria determined Kano as the host state?
How many other states have benefited at similar scale?
What safeguards ensure equitable distribution of federal programmes?
Without clear answers, the narrative may continue to shift from empowerment to allegations of bias and favoritism.
This is no longer just about one programme.
It is about trust, fairness, and accountability.
Because in a country where millions are waiting for opportunity, every federal intervention must answer one question:
Is this truly for all Nigerians or just a chosen few?