The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has facilitated the establishment of 20 factories and developed more than 40 products in two years, as part of efforts to move Nigerian research and innovation from the laboratory to the marketplace.
Khalil Suleiman Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, disclosed this in Abuja while leading the agency’s management and winners of its Innovation Assessment and Award Competition on a visit to George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
According to Halilu, NASENI has shifted from a conventional focus on research and product development to building an ecosystem that can take indigenous innovations from conception through commercialisation.
He said the agency’s strategy covers factory development, technology products and programmes designed to identify and nurture innovators from an early age.
Halilu noted that technical expertise alone was not enough to turn inventions into sustainable businesses.
He said NASENI was therefore equipping innovators with complementary skills in areas such as accounting, marketing and business development to improve their chances of successfully commercialising their ideas.
The agency has also introduced the Future Makers Programme, targeted at children between five and 15 years, to encourage early interest in science, technology, engineering and innovation.
Halilu explained that the Innovation Assessment and Award Competition was designed as both inter-agency and intra-agency contests to identify and recognise outstanding innovations by federal civil and public servants.
Receiving the delegation, Akume commended NASENI for what he described as significant achievements in innovation and technological development.
He assured the agency of continued Federal Government support and said the administration would keep working to create an environment where local research, technology development and innovation could thrive.
Akume described the innovation competition as an important milestone, particularly because of its potential to produce home-grown solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
He highlighted innovations with potential applications in security, food production and healthcare as evidence of the depth of talent available in Nigeria. “Nigeria has talents. I don’t doubt about that. Wherever you go in the world, Nigerians are recognised as people with lot of talents and people with a great future,” he said.
The SGF also praised NASENI for adopting what he described as a transparent and non-partisan process in selecting innovators and competition winners.
He said maintaining the credibility of the process would encourage more Nigerians, particularly young people, to develop and present innovative ideas with confidence that they would have a fair opportunity.
Two of the six winners of the NASENI Innovation Competition presented their innovations during the visit.
A team from the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) showcased a technology-enabled security jacket designed to facilitate real-time communication between personnel in the field and the command-and-control centres of security agencies.
The innovation is intended to improve coordination and response during security operations by providing a direct communication link between field personnel and operational command centres.
Another winning team from NASENI presented a commercial electronic platform designed as a digital marketplace where Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) can promote and market their goods and services.
Akume said sustained investment in indigenous talent and innovation could strengthen Nigeria’s capacity in critical areas including security, food production, healthcare and technology.
He also expressed optimism that continued development of local technological capabilities could eventually position Nigeria to produce sophisticated aerospace technologies.
“Tomorrow, who knows, Nigeria can manufacture rockets that can send people to the moon. And this can be the courtesy of NASENI,” Akume said.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to creating the conditions necessary for indigenous research, innovation and technology to flourish.
