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  • NASENI, tech village partner on tech hub

    NASENI, tech village partner on tech hub

    National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has partnered Abuja Technology Village (ATV) to develop 300 hectares into a hub for factories, technology companies, and innovation-driven manufacturing plants to accelerating aid industrial growth.

    Speaking at a briefing in Abuja yesterday, Executive Vice Chair, Khalil Halilu, said the collaboration would transform their sites in ATV from research-focused installations into full production facilities.

    He stressed that the partnership would end the shelving of research outputs as mere prototypes, adding renewable energy and other NASENI innovations would be developed into market-ready products.

    According to Halilu, NASENI developed 35 commercially viable products last year, noting that the collaboration would scale up these innovations for widespread adoption.

    He described the agreement as mutually beneficial, leveraging ATV’s strategic location, investment incentives, and shared vision for Nigeria’s technological advancement.

    “NASENI will attract investments and create jobs through this initiative. Our goal is to promote national brands and local production through Abuja Technology Village.

    Read Also: NASENI begs Nigerians to buy Made-in-Nigeria products

     “This is just the beginning; more factories will rise, and innovation will flourish in the 300 hectares.’’Halilu said.

    Acting Managing Director of ATV Free Zone Company, Mr. Isa Shafeek, welcomed the partnership as timely and vital for industrial development.

    “This partnership is a perfect fit, especially as Nigeria needs to build local production capacity. ATV will work with NASENI on technology-driven projects,” Shafeek said.

    Special Adviser on Foreign Partners and Inter-Governmental Affairs to NASENI chief, Dr. Dahiru Mohammed,  noted the significance of the initiative for Nigeria’s human capital development.

    “We may even require more space beyond 300 hectares due to the high level of interest this partnership is generating.

    “This collaboration is a bold step toward reducing our dependence on imports and fostering domestic innovation.”

    The partnership is part of government’s drive on industrialisation and technology-based transformation.

    Established in 2009, Abuja Technology Village is a technology park and Special Economic Zone designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria’s capital.

    It provides modern infrastructure and an enabling environment for local and international companies, research institutions, and innovators in key sectors, including ICT, Biotechnology, Minerals Technology, and Energy Technology.

    By this platform, ATV and NASENI are boosting economic development, creating jobs, and positioning Nigeria as a leader in the global technology landscape.

  • How NASENI is powering the Nigeria First movement

    How NASENI is powering the Nigeria First movement

    By Khalil Suleiman Halilu

    In 1961, South Korea was a textbook case of despair. Per capita income sat below $100. Literacy rates hovered around 30%. Samsung was still a grocery trading company, and Hyundai was repairing fishing boats. But instead of outsourcing its future, Korea placed a bold bet—on its people, its industries, and on disciplined, deliberate execution.

    Today, Samsung’s market cap exceeds $260 billion. Hyundai earned over $120 billion in revenue last year. For perspective, Nigeria’s entire 2024 federal budget is about $20 billion. The lesson here isn’t to idolize Korea—it’s to recognize what becomes possible when a nation aligns purpose with policy, and ambition with action.

    At the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), we see Nigeria’s opportunity in similar terms. With 220 million people, a median age of just 18, and nearly four million young Nigerians entering the workforce every year, we’re not short on energy or ambition. But to turn this into prosperity, we need more than potential—we need a movement that aligns strategy with action: One that transforms “Nigeria First” from a policy into a shared national priority.

    When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Nigeria First policy, it was not just a symbolic act. It was a hard reset: A new operating system for national development.  It is a deliberate shift toward prioritizing Nigerian-made solutions, Nigerian innovation and Nigerian enterprise. This is not politics. This is economics—with purpose.

    At NASENI, we see this not as rhetoric, but as roadmap. The data is clear: in Q3 of 2024 alone, Nigeria spent trillions of Naira on imports. A large share of that spending went toward products we have the capacity to build here—solar panels, software, machine parts, even furniture. What if we redirected even a fraction of that capital toward homegrown production? What if we bet on ourselves?

    The movement we are leading is about exactly that—putting Nigeria in motion, powered by local capability. This is not about isolationism. It is about inclusion. It is about choosing to reinvest value here at home—stimulating manufacturing, deepening our tax base, strengthening the Naira, and most importantly, creating jobs. This is not theoretical. The movement is already underway.

    In Katsina, our smart irrigation systems have doubled farm yields. In Ebonyi, we are testing locally built lithium batteries for off-grid communities. In Anambra and Ogun, we are working with manufacturers to remove friction using Nigerian-made technology. And just last year, NASENI launched 35 market-ready products, secured $3.25 billion in private and development capital, and trained over 5,000 local innovators.

    We are not only driving innovation—we are creating a new industrial backbone, built for and by Nigerians. But no movement thrives in isolation. Government must lead, but the private sector must scale. Public procurement—estimated to be 25–30% of GDP—is a powerful lever. With Nigeria’s GDP projected to reach $1.4 trillion in 2025, this means $350–$420 billion in procurement spending. Directing even half of that to Nigerian producers could unlock over 2 million jobs each year.

    This is not charity. This is smart economics. Every time a government agency chooses Nigerian-made goods—vehicles, equipment, software—they are investing in trust, signaling belief, and building the momentum of the movement. Patriotism must become more logistical than symbolic. It should live in vendor lists, procurement memos, and balance sheets.

    That’s why NASENI is scaling HatchBox—our incubation platform—to support over 10,000 innovators this year. That is why we launched the NASENI Innovation Hub with AfriLabs to provide critical infrastructure for startups. And that’s why we’re working with state governments to build regional manufacturing hubs focused on energy, agriculture, and IT—creating 10,000+ direct jobs and over 30,000 indirect ones.

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    We are also laying the groundwork for Nigeria’s first lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant—a critical step for energy independence and electric vehicle (EV) adoption. Alongside that, we are designing templates to make it easier for MDAs to source Nigerian technologies, targeting a 25% increase in local content for public procurement.

    All of this is part of a broader movement—one that says: we do not need to wait to be developed. We can build. But to do this at scale, we need coordination. Agencies must align. Budgets must serve solutions, not just systems. And policies must speak to each other—because when that happens, we go faster, together.

    Let us be clear: this movement isn’t about resisting globalization. It is about shaping it from a place of strength. It is about building a Nigeria that does not just consume value—but creates it: One that earns respect not because of our size but what we build and how we solve problems.

    We are not chasing miracles. We are compounding progress. This is what “Nigeria First” looks like—not as a slogan, but as a daily practice. One procurement decision, one innovation, one young entrepreneur at a time because our Samsung moment won’t come from imitation. It will come from commitment—to our people, our producers, and our collective power to build.

    •Halilu is Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) sent this piece from Abuja.

  • NDPHC, NASENI, Haier partner to deliver 20MW to Kano

    NDPHC, NASENI, Haier partner to deliver 20MW to Kano

    The Nigerian Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and Haier Technologies—NDPHC’s development partners are collaborating on a 20MW embedded solar generation facility aimed at supporting vulnerable businesses in the Challawa area of Kano State.

    NDPHC, Managing Director, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, led a high-level management team on a site survey and assessment of the Challawa Industrial District in Kano. 

    Accompanying her were the Executive Director of Generation, Engr. Kassim Abdulahi, and the Executive Director of Corporate Services, Engr. Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama.
    NDPHC Head, Corporate Communications and External Relations, Mr. Emmanuel Ojor disclosed this in a press statement yesterday.

    According to the statement, the team’s first stop was at the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), where they were received by the Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Abu Jimeta. 

    During strategic discussions, both CEOs reaffirmed commitment to collaboration in developing viable models to enhance electricity access in Kano and its environs.

    Speaking during a meeting with business owners in Challawa, Engr. Adighije described the visit as both significant and emotional, noting the critical role the industrial area plays in national revenue generation and socio-economic development.

    Addressing the delay between the Vice President’s directive and the current visit, she explained: “You may wonder why it took us from December until now. It took us a few months to come because I engaged development partners to come up with a cost effective solution that will offer affordable tariffs for the Challawa community.”

    Read Also: NDPHC has invested N500b in transmission infrastructure-Adighije

    Adighije noted that NDPHC engaged NASENI and Haier Technologies to develop a project framework that leverages Kano’s abundant solar potential to deliver reliable, renewable, and affordable electricity to businesses in Challawa.

    She continued: “I was emotional seeing businesses with the capacity to generate revenue and drive economic growth suffer losses simply due to a lack of affordable electricity. We must turn our solar potential into actionable solutions that unlock opportunities, boost productivity, and serve the greater good of all Nigerians.”

    Highlighting the broader national context, she added: “The output of the manufacturing sector should directly translate into job creation, wealth generation, and poverty reduction. Kano is symbolic and strategic to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.”

    She assured business owners that NDPHC and its partners are fully committed to deploying embedded solutions that will significantly benefit manufacturers in the area.

    “As a generation company, NDPHC primarily supplies power from its gas-fired plants to the national grid. However, with the power market now transitioning to a bilateral trading structure, Engr. Adighije explained that the company is able to sell directly to off-takers, distribution companies, or registered buyer groups”.

    “As an association, you can come together to register a trading company and purchase electricity directly from NDPHC,” she advised. “You can be assured that our electricity pricing will be highly competitive—better than what is currently available from distribution companies.”

  • NASENI begs Nigerians to buy Made-in-Nigeria products

    NASENI begs Nigerians to buy Made-in-Nigeria products

    The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has called on Nigerians to support homegrown innovation by purchasing Made-in-Nigeria products, including its 10-inch tablets, locally manufactured laptops, and soon-to-be-launched electric tricycles (Keke Napep).

    The agency also highlighted its advancements in producing solar-powered irrigation systems, compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion centres, and high-capacity block-making machines capable of producing up to 1,000 blocks per hour.

    During a stakeholders’ engagement in Akure, Ondo State, NASENI’s Deputy Director of Engineering, Joseph Alasoluyi, acknowledged the challenges of perceived low quality, pricing, and public perception as major barriers to the acceptance of locally manufactured goods.

    Alasoluyi emphasized that NASENI has the capacity to develop machinery that can compete globally but stressed the need for a coordinated effort to boost Nigeria’s industrial sector and change consumer attitudes toward locally made products.

    He said NASENI which was set up to promote science, technology, and engineering as a foundation for Nigeria’s development, currently operates 12 institutes nationwide to achieve its objectives.

    According to him, “95 percent of our research metamorphosis into products. The new NASENI is into production and we are interested in feedback.

    “The idea of this programme is to interface to ensure we produce products using our indigenous technology. This is what NASENI is out for, to ensure that homegrown technologies are encouraged. We are out there to ensure we integrate effort to ensure that locally technology is used to develop products within the resources we have. 

    “NASENI’s “3 Cs” – Creation, Collaboration, and Commercialisation – that define NASENI’s strategic mandate: Creating innovations through research, Collaborating with partners to develop and refine products, and Commercialising these solutions to benefit the economy. 

    Alasoluyi also highlighted the Irrigate Nigeria project – a presidential initiative championed by NASENI to ensure year-round agricultural production through innovative irrigation systems.

    Read Also: NASENI, Caverton Helicopters begin UAV training for female engineers

    Deputy Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Dr Samuel Oluyamo, said government agencies were not doing theirr jobs go create awareness about researches.

    Dr. Oluyamo stated that many promising research outputs were left moribund due to lack of funding and weak linkages between research institutions and industry. 

    Oluyamo said the federal government’s was yet to be commitment to funding research and development even as he lamented that many academic innovations remain shelved due to lack of support for commercialisation and poor infrastructure. 

    “Until we upscale research into mass production, technological growth will remain elusive,” he said.

  • NASENI, Caverton Helicopters begin UAV training for female engineers

    NASENI, Caverton Helicopters begin UAV training for female engineers

    The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in partnership with Caverton Helicopters has flagged off the second batch of training for 10 selected female engineers and scientists in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology.

    NASENI, in a statement issued by its Director of Information, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, said the six-week intensive training program, which began Monday at Caverton’s Training School in Ikeja, Lagos, is a major component of the NASENI-Caverton (NASCAV) partnership aimed at advancing NASENI’s aviation mandate and boosting indigenous UAV capacity.

    The training is anchored under the SHEFLY project, a flagship initiative of NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, designed to empower rural women with drone technology skills for precision farming, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

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    Speaking at the opening ceremony, Team Lead for the NASCAV project, Dr. Abayomi Okesola, noted that the SHEFLY project reflects the agency’s commitment to bridging the gender gap in STEM and promoting women-led innovation in agriculture.

    Representing NASENI management, Okesola commended Caverton’s pedigree in aviation and marine sectors, describing them as “worthy partners.”

    “The selection of these female engineers from institutes across various zones is intentional.

     “They will go on to manage training clusters that will empower rural women with drone technology skills to improve agricultural productivity nationwide”, he said.

    Addressing the participants, Caverton Helicopters’ Managing Director, Captain Bello Ibrahim, represented by Director of Corporate Services, Mr. Ayodele Omueti, stressed the critical role of training in ensuring safety and competence in aviation.

    He described UAVs as a key part of modern aviation and encouraged the trainees to remain focused and committed.

    On his part, Caverton Drones Project Coordinator, Mr. Ese Obukonise, highlighted that the training adheres to international standards and is certified by a UK licensing authority.

    He noted the growing global demand for UAV pilots and said the SHEFLY project would not only promote gender inclusiveness but also unlock new opportunities for women in UAV technology.

    Upon completion, he said the trained engineers will spearhead the rollout of drone-assisted precision farming techniques across rural communities, empowering women farmers to increase crop yields and improve food security.

    The SHEFLY project is set to be formally launched at NASENI’s Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute (AAVDI) in Kaduna.

    It aims to promote sustainable agricultural practices, enhance rural incomes, and position women at the forefront of technological transformation in farming.

  • NASENI champions local manufacturing in Ibadan

    NASENI champions local manufacturing in Ibadan

    National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has restated its dedication to boosting local manufacturing and driving Nigeria’s industrial growth.

    The commitment took center stage at the strategic focus group meeting on Made-in-Nigeria products in Ibadan, Oyo State capital city, where industry leaders, policymakers and entrepreneurs gathered to tackle challenges and explore opportunities in the sector.

    With “Made in Nigeria for Everyone” as its theme, the event provided a platform to discuss ways to enhance product quality, tackle production challenges and expand market access for local-made products.

    Since its establishment in 1992, NASENI has been playing a crucial role in Nigeria’s industrial and technological growth.

    The agency bridges the gap between research and production, driving homegrown innovations that support economic development.

    Speaking at the forum, Acting Managing Director of Prototype Engineering Development Institute, a subsidiary of NASENI, Mr. Ahmed Hamzat, highlights the agency’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base through its 3C agenda: creation, collaboration, and commercialization.

    Read Also: NASENI gathers stakeholders to promote Made-in Nigeria goods in Anambra

    He noted that NASENI remains dedicated to fostering self-reliance, wealth creation, and job opportunities.

    According to Ahmed, by investing in research and development, NASENI provides engineering solutions in critical sectors including agriculture, transportation, construction and power.

    He added that, the agency continues to support local manufacturers, ensuring that Nigerian products meet international standards and become competitive on a global scale.

    Ahmed said: “We have moved from research to manufacturing, yet many Nigerians are unaware of the quality of work being done. Our products meet global standards, and we need to change the mindset of consumers to support locally made goods.

    “If our manufacturers meet the required standards, there is no reason Nigerians won’t patronise them.”

    He further emphasized the need for policies that provide financial support, improve access to technology and create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

    “This meeting aims to raise awareness about the benefits of local production, encourage collaboration, and set higher quality standards to ensure Nigerian products can compete effectively in the market”, the NASENI boss said.

    A panel discussion featuring industry experts, policymakers and business leaders examined key issues affecting local manufacturing.

    The talks covered the high cost of production, access to funding and strategies for ensuring that local products meet global standards.

    The panelists stressed that achieving industrial success requires strong policies, better financing options, and incentives for manufacturers who prioritize local production.

    They also noted the importance of business registration and affiliation with recognized organizations to attract investors and benefit from government subsidies for locally sourced raw materials.

    In her remarks, an Assistant Director with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Oyo State, Ibadan, Mrs. Ogunronbi Olanike highlighted the agency’s efforts to support small businesses through its Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMC) skill initiative.

    She explained that NAFDAC had streamlined documentation requirements to make product registration easier and had intensified efforts against counterfeit goods through open-market raids, surveillance and routine enforcement.

    A Senior Standards engineer with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Oluwadare Bolumole, representing the State Coordinator noted that many Nigerian products meet required standards but suffer from a lack of awareness.

    He said: “The issue is not quality but perception. Nigerians must take responsibility for celebrating and promoting their own brands.”

  • Emulate China, NEPC, NASENI urge Nigerians

    Emulate China, NEPC, NASENI urge Nigerians

    Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has called on Nigerians to change their perspective about Made-in-Nigeria goods and services, saying negative perception and attendant poor patronage of home-made products remains a major obstacle to growing the economy.

    Speaking at the Strategic Focus Group Meeting on Made-in-Nigeria Products in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the NEPC head of products and market department, Hadiza Kashiat, identified negative perception as the biggest challenge facing the market of Nigerian-made products and services.

    The focus group meeting was organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to bring together stakeholders—the manufacturers, academia, SMEs, and industry leaders—to explore ways to boost the productivity and acceptance of Made-in-Nigeria products and services.

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    Kashiat urged Nigerians to emulate the Chinese, who prioritised local industries and patronized their products to achieve global economic dominance.

    She said a lot of made – in – Nigeria products are exported out of the country and rebranded in international markets under foreign labels which Nigerians buy and bring back to the country without knowing they were manufactured in Nigeria.

    She revealed that Nigeria has one of the best lubricants when compared to others globally, adding that Malaysia is still exporting palm oil from Nigeria, an attestation that quality home – made products and services abound in Nigeria but require a change of perception to get the needed acceptance.

    She stated, “We have to change our perspectives about Nigeria and made – in – Nigeria goods. We need to look in ward and understand that this is our country. A lot of made – in – Nigeria products are good, we might have some that are not yet there but a lot of them are good. I can speak from the aspect of products going out of the country.

    “A lot of products are exported and rebranded under foreign labels when they leave this country, yet we refuse to acknowledge their quality. We have our lubricants for instance. Nigerian lubricant is one of the best in the world when compared to other countries. We have our ginger and sesame seeds.

    “Malaysia is still coming to Nigeria to export palm oil out of this country due to its superior quality. So, that means we have quality made – in – Nigeria products in this country. We need to look at how we see made- in – products. If we say no to made – in – Nigeria products, how do we grow our economy? We can’t grow our economy if we refuse to buy.

    “China did not grow by abandoning its local products. At some point, the country locked its economy to develop its industries. Nigeria must do the same by supporting its manufacturers and consuming what we produce.”

    Also speaking, Babajide Sawyerr from NASENI’s Lagos Office said the engagement aligned with the agency’s mandate to drive economic growth through increased local patronage.

    Sawyerr noted that addressing the negative perception surrounding local goods requires a collective effort.

    “Yes, Nigerian-made products face challenges of stigmatization, but we are working with relevant stakeholders to change this perception. The truth is, many Nigerian products are of high quality, and we should patronise them to strengthen the economy,” he added.

    For Ibrahim Idris from the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), high energy cost, forex instability, poor research funding in universities, and the production of substandard goods are factors stymieing the country’s march to  industrial and economic growth.

  • NASENI mulls nationwide campaign for Made-in-Nigeria products

    NASENI mulls nationwide campaign for Made-in-Nigeria products

    The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is set to amplify the success of locally engineered solutions aimed at transforming lives by embarking on a nationwide sensitisation and promotion of Made-in-Nigeria products.

    A nationwide strategic focused group meetings on Made-in-Nigeria products are being organised by the agency to champion this course in six geo-political zones of the country.

    Flagging off the initiate in Abuja on Wednesday for the North Central zone, the Coordinator,  Implementation and Management Office (IMO) NASENI, Yusuf Kasheem said by the strategic focused meeting is designed to inspire a groundswell of support for Made-in-Nigeria products.

    He said when Nigerians embrace the initiative, “we do more than purchase goods—we invest in our future. We create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and reduce our reliance on imported alternatives.” 

    Kasheem further said the adoption and patronage of every Made-in-Nigeria product “is a step toward a stronger, more self-sufficient Nigeria.”

    He maintained the agency is committed to harnessing technology and innovation for the prosperity of all Nigerians.

    “In just over a year, through strategic partnerships both locally and internationally, NASENI has introduced 35 commercially viable, Made-in-Nigeria products. 

    “These innovations span critical sectors and reflect our commitment to excellence and self-reliance,” he stated. 

    These products, according to Kasheem, include Solar Irrigation Systems: Empowering farmers and bolstering food security; Home Solar Systems: Delivering clean, affordable energy to Nigerian households; Lithium Batteries: Powering electric vehicles and advancing sustainable transportation and Electric Vehicles: Pioneering eco-friendly mobility and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

    Read Also: NASENI holds workshop to promote made-in-Nigeria products

    Other breakthrough are Laptops and Smartphones: Demonstrating Nigeria’s capacity to produce world-class electronics; Animal Feed Mill Machines: Enhancing agricultural productivity and supporting livestock development and  Energy-Efficient Street Lamps: Illuminating communities with sustainable lighting solutions.

    Executive Director Business Development, NEXIM Bank, Hon. Stella Okotete said the promotion of Made-in-Nigeria products is not just an economic necessity—it is a national imperative.

    This, she said, would help “increase the quality, branding, and competitiveness of our products, we enhance our foreign exchange earnings, create jobs, and strengthen the value chain across key sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, solid minerals, and services.”

    In supporting the initiative, Okotete said: “NEXIM Bank has developed targeted interventions, including: Single-digit interest loans to support businesses in export manufacturing and value addition.Export credit facilities to ease access to financing for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).”

  • NASENI holds workshop to promote made-in-Nigeria products

    NASENI holds workshop to promote made-in-Nigeria products

    The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has held a special seminar for the northwest region to promote local manufacturing, innovation and made-in-Nigeria products.

    The event, held at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano, brought together government officials, industry leaders and innovators to shape policies for Nigeria’s industrial growth.

    Engr. Ambali Abdulfatai of the Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute (HEDI), one of the departmental institutes of NASENI, said the agency (NASENI) has various development institutes across the country, with a very wide scope in terms of engineering and scientific infrastructure development, yet it is being faced with so many problems that hinder patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products.

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    “One of the obstacles is the attitude of Nigerians towards patronizing locally made products. And this is a very serious challenge. Government has to come in by stopping series of attempts at importing every foreign product.

    “By the time the issue of imported products is dealt with, the ones available in the country will get patronage. We will then be able to focus on the locally made goods and see how to improve on them once there is patronage.

    “However, in a situation where there is no patronage, we develop some of these facilities and products and just keep them and incur huge losses.

    “Actually it’s a big challenge and we hope, with this kind of attention by the NASENI in this kind of programme, bringing so many stakeholders together to have this kind of discussion and awareness, we believe in the next possible shortest time, we shall move out of this challenge and be able to patronize our own made in Nigeria products,” Dr. Abdulfatai, a Mechanical engineer, said.

    Arafat Ibrahim Umar, a project officer at Bank of Industry, said the bank’s key mission is to transform Nigeria’s industrial sector, so the gathering was key to the bank because it could put an impact on the Nigerian economy.

    “The bank is focusing strategically on six thematic areas, from gender to youths and skills to climate infrastructure and so on. Also, the bank is opening windows such as the rapid programme where even rural areas have access to financing at very cheap rates from the federal government and MSME funds that the bank is rolling out,” he said.

    Commenting on the general fear that goods made in Nigeria are usually substandard, Umar explained: “With adequate funding, our industries should be able to make quality products. And I think this is where a gathering like this will have impact on what our industries are able to do and of course with substantive or adequate finance, the industries should be able to do better.”

    In his contributions, Professor Sani Muhammad Gumel, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Bayero University Kano (BUK) said NASENI and the varsity as partners, would use the forum to reach to Nigerians who have the talents, and support them with what they need, to motivate and encourage them. “With this, there will be hope for this country,” he added.

    Salma Ahmed Dambappa, Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers, Kano branch, said, “The meeting was interesting, inspiring and motivating. It boosted our capacities in whatever means we can afford to, and at the same time, tolerate each other, persevere in the work and make it as excellent as expected.”

    The participants also observed that in promoting made in Nigeria products, we must make use of the available natural resources in the country.

    “We have numerous natural resources in this country, why not utilize them? For example, we can take advantage of the sun and manufacture solar using products. I think these are the kinds of things we should make use of.

    “I believe we are now reaching an encouraging level. What mostly is causing people to actually not patronize Nigerian products, is the issue of quality and standard. But with available resources that you have everywhere in the country and with this kind of support that Nigerians are now receiving, definitely people will sit down and produce quality products, which are cheaper, which are produced using our local materials.

    “I am assuring Nigerians that with what NASENI is doing today, definitely quality is going to be assured. So let them start patronizing Nigerian goods. It is through testing that they will know the quality,” Abdulfatai assured.

  • Made-in-Nigeria helicopter ready soon, says NASENI engineer

    Made-in-Nigeria helicopter ready soon, says NASENI engineer

    The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has said the engineering work on the first Made-in-Nigeria helicopter is nearing completion.

    The agency promised that it would soon fly the Nigerian chopper.

    The Project Manager of NASENI’s Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute in Kaduna, Kareem Aduagba, announced this yesterday during a Focus Group Engagement organised by the agency.

    The focus group engagement, which was attended by inventors and manufacturers from the academia and private sectors in Kaduna, was meant to promote local manufacturing, innovation, and the adoption of Made-in-Nigeria products.

    The forum brought together government officials, industry leaders, and innovators to discuss policies that would drive Nigeria’s industrial and technological growth.

    Aduagba said: “What we are doing now is not to reinvent the wheel. We had one of our projects being started from the first principle, which we are working on – the made-in-Nigeria helicopter and some Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

    Read Also: NASENI, Imose unveil locally-made laptops, tablets

    “We have some, which we bought over from developed countries …in Semi Knock Downs (SKDs) and some Complete Knock Downs (CKDs). So, we are now making use of science and engineering knowledge to work on the SKDs and the CKDs.

    “Very soon, we are going to do the first test. Everything is nearing completion now. Very soon, we will fly the first made-in-Nigeria helicopter.”

    Also, the Head of the Manufacturing Services Department at the Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute in Kano (under NASENI), Abdulfatai Ambali, emphasised the agency’s renewed focus on commercialisation, collaboration, and creation under its current leadership.

    He said: “Many Nigerians are not aware of NASENI and its activities. However, with the current leadership under the Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Suleman Halilu, the agency is prioritising awareness, stakeholder engagement, and community impact.”

    He said NASENI was working to develop homegrown technology to reduce the country’s over-reliance on foreign products with many innovative solutions already deployed across various sectors.

    The facilitator of the programme, Saleh Kwaru, urged Nigerians to support local industries, stressing that national development depends on patronising homegrown products.

    “We must look inward and leverage our resources. Constantly relying on foreign products weakens our economy,” he said.

    The acting Zonal Coordinator for the North West Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Yusuf Suleman, lauded the agency for organising the event in order to address the challenges that hinder locally-made products in the areas of quality and finishing.

    He said: “Innovation and modern technology are key to improving the acceptance of Nigerian products. This kind of engagement will help tackle production challenges and create more job opportunities.”