Victor EzejaPresident Muhammadu Buhari has applauded the National Agency for Science and Engineering
Infrastructure (NASENI), for attracting a $10.5 million Research and Development grant to Nigeria. Noting that it was evidence that his administration’s transformation agenda is achieving results in building competitive agency.
Buhari said the agency would be a pivotal legacy his administration will bequeath to the next
administration in 2023. He stated this during the commissioning of President Muhammadu Buhari Technology and Innovation Complex at NASENI Headquarters, Idu Industrial Zone, Abuja on Tuesday.
He noted that the agency under his administration was being repositioned to become a Technology and
Innovation Hub for national development.
READ ALSO: CBN’s New Cash Withdrawal Limit Pushing Cashless Policy Too Hard, Says Dr Mbamalu
“This is one pivotal legacy of this administration. With this complex and available facility, the future
of our national competitiveness among global economies is promising. We are sure that these advanced
Science and Engineering Core facilities will assist our nation in the attainment of the Africa Union’s 2063 Agenda and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, 2030,” Buhari said. He gave the assurance of his administration’s determination to resolve the challenges preventing NASENI from attaining her full potential.
“NASENI has a long history of establishment and has been in existence for over 30 years now, but the agency has been facing so many challenges that were mitigating against the realisation of her full
potential in line with the Act that established the agency.
“Under my Chairmanship, NASENI is undergoing a reinvention and transformation to become a
Technology and Innovation Hub for our national development. “Consequently, we have strategically repositioned NASENI to develop local capacity in machine building and fabrication, which is critical to Nigeria’s Industrial development.”
President Buhari while expressing delight at the great strides the agency has made under his administration, declared that “NASENI is now domesticating foreign technologies and product
development through backward integration.
READ ALSO: Afrinvest Experts Highlight Investment Outlook, Opportunity For 2023
“The recent attraction of a $10.5 Million US Dollar Research and Development grant to Nigeria is
evidence that our transformation is achieving results in building a competitive agency.”
According to the President, “NASENI, under my watch as the Chairman of the Governing Council, has
lived up to its expectations and has performed well.”
“The agency has invented useful and historic intelligence and defence-related equipment and devices,
and has engineered in collaboration with reputable organisations, Armoured Personnel Carrier with
advanced features and Mine Resistant Ambushed Protected APC, among others,” he further stated.
President Buhari also expressed delight that NASENI was advancing Agricultural Self Sufficiency,
Energy, Power, and Home Grown Technology Programmes of this Administration through its fabrication
of machinery, equipment, and devices.
According to him, the agency “is currently implementing Smart Irrigation Projects for multi-crop seasonal farming; the National Tractor Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Redeployment Innovation, in collaboration with Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending,” stressing that the “assembly of two helicopters towards the first Made In Nigeria Helicopter and the development of Solar cells for 100% Solar Module production, using local raw materials among patriotic contributions to Nigeria’s transition to a manufacturing economy.”
President Buhari reiterated NASENI”s relevance as a critical agency in the maintenance and
sustainability of the nation’s infrastructure. According to him, “The present administration has invested heavily in diverse infrastructural facilities: in roads, rails, water, and aviation, among other sectors of our economy. “After this administration, resourcing and sustainability of these critical infrastructures will present a challenge on a medium to long-term basis. “But with our deliberate repositioning NASENI to be at par with other similar agencies of government across the world and optimal performance, we are convinced that the future maintenance of our key national infrastructures is assured.”
“New NASENI is undoubtedly, among the most important legacy my administration is bequeathing to
the next administration in 2023,” the President reaffirmed.
President Buhari also lauded the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Engr. Prof. Mohammad Sani
Haruna for his exemplary leadership, dynamism, and foresight in advancing the cause of the agency.
“I commend you and direct the conferment of Excellence Service Award on you and a National Honour
of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), which is to be conferred on you at the last Federal
Executive Council of December 2022.
In his welcome address, the Executive Vice Chairman acknowledged President Buhari’s commitment to
the deployment of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) to the centre stage of Nigeria’s socio-
economic activities, noting that it was the first time a Nigerian President was visiting the Agency.
“You are the first and the only Head of Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to have ever paid a visit to any facility of NASENI across the country in the 31 years of the agency’s existence,” Prof. Haruna said,
He stressed that “You have already demonstrated a departure from commodity-based economy and leading prioritised innovations and Inventions towards manufacturing and knowledge-based economy.”
He assured the President of the agency’s commitment to contributing towards overcoming the country”s
development challenges.
“Furthermore, NASENI is ready and will God willing, soon provide innovative technology solutions to
stopping crude oil theft and bunkering, vandalization of power lines as well as surveillance and
monitoring devices for our rails, roads, and seaways,” the Executive Vice Chairman declared.
The goodwill message from the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan was delivered by Senator Uche
Ekwunife, Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, while the Minister, Federal Capital
Territory, Muhammad Bello, was among the dignitaries at the commissioning ceremony.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
Follow Us