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Tag: NASENI

  • Prof. Haruna commends SEDI-Minna for establishing President Muhammadu Buhari entrepreneurship centre

    Prof. Haruna commends SEDI-Minna for establishing President Muhammadu Buhari entrepreneurship centre

    An entrepreneurship development centre named after President Muhammadu Buhari initiated by the Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI-Minna) has been commissioned by the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Engr.Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna. The EVC/CE also had commended the Managing Director/Chief Executive of SEDI-Minna Prof. Mohammed Ndaliman and his team of Management for the initiative.

    The Centre, Muhammadu Buhari Entrepreneurship Development Centre (MBEDC), which is dedicated for training and impartation of technology based skills for Nigerian youths, according to SEDI’s Managing Director/Chief Executive was founded to address youth unemployment, tackle poverty and to make the mandate of SEDI Minna have direct bearing on using science and technology to solve societal problems.
    SEDI-Minna is one of the ten (10) research and development institutes of NASENI.

    While commissioning the newly constructed centre, Prof. Haruna said that the centre has the capacity to train youths in various new and emerging technologies and to make the Nigeria people self-reliant. The EVC/CE explained that the new NASENI and the Institutes under his watch had evolved a new approach toward addressing the need for a viable and or the laying of a sustainable foundation for the industrialisation of Nigeria.

    The new NASENI strategy, he explained, is the dynamics of leveraging on the potentials inherent in Nigerians themselves at all facets of development while using the manpower, facilities and expertise in the NASENI system to unleash modern skills on the people through deliberate collaborations with various public and private institutions within and outside the country”.

    Prof. Haruna disclosed that NASENI had embarked on the design, fabrication, and reengineering of all processes that would bring the desired technological development, industrialisation and innovations that are capable of addressing unemployment, poverty, and ameliorate capital flight in the country.

    The Muhammadu Buhari Entrepreneurship Development Centre SEDI-Minna is one of such initiatives and it consists of 250 Capacity Conference Hall, four (4) offices and seven (7) Skills Acquisition and Training rooms.

    Explaining the concept behind the empowerment Centre, Prof. Ndaliman said the establishment of the Centre was made possible through the Federal Government intervention programme under its policy of Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). The ERGP, he said, was a medium-term plan of the government for 2017 to 2020 developed to restore Nigeria’s economic growth while leveraging the resilience and ingenuity of Nigerians.

    According to him “we at SEDI Minna and by extension NASENI are more suitable to bring into practical realities the government policies of ERGP and many more, this was the concept behind the Muhammadu Buhari Entrepreneurship Development Centre”

    The Managing Director of SEDI Minna also hinted that the operations of the new entrepreneurship centre would not be limited to the provision of skills in the areas of shoemaking, leather production etc but the centre will provide the platform for long-lasting technical capabilities to help address problems of unemployment and youth restiveness including poverty-induced insecurity of lives and property in the country.

    Prof. Ndaliman used the opportunity of the occasion to call on governments at all levels and stakeholders to take advantage of the Centre and SEDI-Minna facilities and expertise to sponsor youths both to MBEDC and SEDI-Minna for skills acquisition training in any of the following areas: glass blowing, plastic making, wood working, machining and metal fabrication. He said the listed skills would be provided to the trainees in addition to all necessary entrepreneurship norms like discipline, planning, and creativity geared towards profit-making for the trainees in their future endeavours.

  • “TVET As Veritable Tool for Academic and Industrial Linkages” – Prof Haruna.

    “TVET As Veritable Tool for Academic and Industrial Linkages” – Prof Haruna.

    Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) has been described as a veritable instrument in linking industries, Academia and technological advancements for promotion of Research and Development (R&Ds) for the growth of the nation’s economy.
    The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna who was the Special Guest at the commissioning of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) R&Ds and Innovation Exhibition Hall disclosed this on Tuesday in Kaduna while presenting his paper titled: “The Role of Polytechnic Research, Development and Innovation in the socio-economic Development of Nigeria”.
    While emphasizing the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the socio-economic development of any nation, Prof. Haruna said “the foundation of a knowledge-based economy is formed on a tripod comprising of technicians (Crafts men and women), Technologists and Engineers, who must work together in ensuring Nigeria’s transition from consumer based economy to a manufacturing economy”
    “Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) have been recognized as instrumental toward making extraordinary contributions to industries and technological work environments.
    Prof.Haruna said that “Developed and developing countries such as China, USA, Japan, Singapore, Germany and the Asian Tiger Clubs had attained tremendous heights in terms of industrialization resulting from consistent and substantial investments in TVET in all economic ramifications for their citizens”.
    Prof. Haruna noted that NASENI, as an Agency of Federal Government with the primary target to empower Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) through impartation of technologies, engineering principles and practices for the production of equipment that will meet international standards as well as sustenance of a flourishing local capital goods or industry, is willing to partner with NBTE and Polytechnics in the development of a pilot plant on promising R&Ds and Innovation Prototype.
    Haruna, a Professor of Electrical Engineering himself is an alumnus of both Plateau State Polytechnic Barkin Ladi and Kaduna Polytechnic shared his experience on the glorious days when polytechnics were known to produce relevant and quality graduates who were highly sort after by employers of labour from the private sector and various industries as well as the mutually beneficial synergy and collaboration that existed between industries and polytechnics. This he said “is now completely history”
    He, however, called on NBTE to review the operation of double stream classes called consultancy classes whereby student of polytechnics were admitted for afternoon and evening classes only. A method he said was lowering the standard and quality of polytechnic graduates.
    Prof. Haruna concluded his address by congratulating NBTE for technology promotion through the commissioning of a Research, Development and Innovation Exhibition Hall for the TVET Sector and he emphasized NASENI’s willingness to partner with NBTE and any polytechnic with a promising prototype of research output to develop a pilot plant as well as investment in joint ventures with private sector for commercial production.
    The Highlight of the event was the commissioning and inspection of the Exhibition Hall by the Chairman of the occasion, Engr. Musa D. Abdullahi alongside NBTE Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris M. Bugaje, NASENI’s EVC/CE, Engr. Prof. M. S. Haruna and other stakeholders present.
  • NASENI & NMDC agree to work together on economic diversification through resuscitation of mining & minerals development sector

    NASENI & NMDC agree to work together on economic diversification through resuscitation of mining & minerals development sector

    “Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts would not give the nation the desired socio-economic targets or depths in creating jobs or wealth and to tackle social vices associated with unemployment, if the strategies do not take into accounts the conversion of the natural resources and minerals into finished products thereby creating the windows for the manufacturing sector to add values to the economy.”
    With these words by the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Engr.Prof.Mohammed Sani over the weekend in Jos, Plateau State, the Agency kick started the long awaited working collaboration between NASENI and the National Metallurgical Development Centre(NMDC) located in Jos, Plateau State.
    The collaboration is toward exploring value addition in the mineral and metals subsector through research and development (R&D’s)of abundant local raw materials found in the country’s soil.
    NMDC is the Federal Government Centre with the mandate and responsibility to undertake, through laboratory research and tests, mineralogical appraisal, examination and evaluation of minerals deposits and endowments in the country and to carry out samples for the purpose of ascertaining the minerals spaces contained in Nigeria soil.
    Other functions of the NMDC include carrying out applied research and also to develop both conventional and refractory products, using mineral raw materials, and to improve the performance of the processes used in metallurgical and allied industries through the applications of scientific knowledge to the solutions of problems related to steel production, fabrication and utilization.
    Activities of the Centre was targeted by Government to be the feeders of raw materials to yet to take off Ajaokuta Steel complex, Itakpe Steel rolling complex and other iron smelter industrial complexes which their lack of full take off had slowed down the industrial development of the country which was essentially needed in the development of iron and steel components to succeed.
    But with the agreement now in the works between NASENI and NMDC, hopes are brightened, and the roles of NASENI as Nigeria’s foremost Agency responsible for designing , development and production of critical engineering infrastructure in order for the Centre to add values to the mineral and metals subsector is being boosted with the agreement.
    The Director General/Chief Executive of NMDC Prof.Linus O.Asuquo who was optimistic about the benefits of the budding collaboration said that:
    “the good works which NASENI is carrying out in the country are well known to all, therefore ” NASENI’s capability to transform NMDC’s outcomes through engineering and industrial uses will no doubt bring about rapid industrialisation capable of addressing unemployment, poverty and safe foreign exchange for our dear country, Nigeria”
    In the emerging collaboration, Professor Haruna said that both organizations would commit themselves to the economic diversification agenda of the Federal government by ensuring that Iron and steel, minerals and metals subsector of the economy are explored to the benefits of the citizens thereby redirecting people’s minds from oil.
    NASENI will fabricate the machines and all needed capital goods and equipment by NMDC while the centre on its part will continue to carry out the required research and development into discovery of more of the Nigeria potential mineral and metals deposits in the country which are the very critical foundational possessions which Nigeria must have before dreaming of our own peculiar type of industrialization or industrial economy.
    “We cannot industrialise our economy without paying attention to the conversion of the nation’s minerals both solid and soft into viable uses. Also, our diversification efforts will not be successful without fabricating the needed tools, machinery, capital goods and equipment to process iron, steels or other minerals deposits”, said Prof Haruna.
    He also disclosed that NASENI had no alternative than to collaborate with NMDC because doing so amounted to fulfilling the mandate and vision of NASENI as the only purpose built Agency of the Federal government established to provide engineering infrastructure, creation of capital goods, machines and equipment aimed at industrializing the country.
  • UNIABUJA seeks NASENI’S assistance on establishment of Reverse Engineering and Innovation Centre on Campus

    UNIABUJA seeks NASENI’S assistance on establishment of Reverse Engineering and Innovation Centre on Campus

    The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), and the University of Abuja has agreed to establish a Centre of Excellence in Reverse Engineering and Innovation that will lead to the creation of indigenous engineering designs capacity and manufacturing to meet the challenges of improving the nation’s local industries.
    The Center when established is expected to help Nigeria conserve foreign exchange spending resulting from her dependence on importation and to cut down capital flights while creating employment opportunities thus raising the standard of living of the general population.
    The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah presented the request to Executive Vice Chairman/CE, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna today in Abuja. The Vice-Chancellor led the University management team on a courtesy visit to NASENI Headquarters where he disclosed that the visit was aimed at renewing the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organizations which were signed in 2014.
    According to him, the proposed centre will also provide manufacturing value-added processes that would lead to employment generation, thus raising the standard of living. “It will lead to the much-desired university-industry linkages which hopefully would revolutionize industrial development of Nigeria,” he said.
    As contained in the proposal by the University, NASENI staff would easily work with the university as joint research staff on many fronts as the centre of Excellence would be located within the University campus to be managed through collaborative efforts by the two organizations. “It will focus amongst others on furnace manufacturing, energy and power equipment, miscellaneous components and devices and systems, and many more”
    In the same vein, Major General Charles Ofoche, Chief of Transformation and Innovation Center of the Nigerian Army led another delegation on behalf of the Nigeria Chief of Army Staff Lt.General Farouk Yahaya on a courtesy visit to NASENI to revive all existing working collaborations between the Agency and the Nigerian Army especially in specific areas of innovation, research and development (R&Ds).
    He said with R&Ds, Nigeria could begin the manufacturing of machines and spare parts using its indigenous resources (human and material resources) as the nation could no longer continue to consume imported finished products, adding that, it is wasteful and lack of diligent exploration citizen’s creative minds and innovation which had kept Nigeria where it is today.
    “Until we started producing all the critical machines and spare parts which Nigeria needs up to 80%, we will not meet up with global standard and trends or competitiveness. We need to be competitive in everything we do.”
    He, however, commended NASENI’s efforts in promoting the development of science, technology and innovation in Nigeria, adding that, collaborating with the Agency would enable the two parties to nurture the nation’s vast natural resources.
    “R&D is the way to go and with Army applications, we can defeat the bad people and make Nigeria better” he stressed.
    In his response, the EVC/CE of NASENI, said the Agency was ready to work with the University of Abuja in establishing the Center of Excellence in reverse engineering and innovation. He said such a move was within the mandate of the Agency, even as he assured both the Army and the VC, Uniabuja of the readiness of the Agency to work with them in promoting the importance of R&Ds in the development of the nation’s economy.
  • Prof. Haruna unravels need for integration of innovation, science and technology for Nigeria’s development

    Prof. Haruna unravels need for integration of innovation, science and technology for Nigeria’s development

    It was a moment for sober reflections at the opening ceremony of on-going Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) conference in Abuja as the Executive Vice Chairman/CE of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure(NASENI), Professor Mohammed Haruna laid bare in simple way the historic workings and various intervention phases by science, innovation and technologies sector in building the advanced economies of countries in Europe, America and Asia which had led to enviable socio-economic well-being of citizens in those countries while Africa in spite of abundant human and material resources remained perpetual consumers of obsolete technologies, perennial poverty and downward economic trends.

    Prof. Haruna was keynote speaker at the 3rd NAS Annual Scientific Conference in Abuja which began on Tuesday 25th January, 2022 at the Nigerian Airforce Conference Centre located in Federal Capital Territory.

    The NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman while explaining reasons for continued widening of gaps between economic performance and socio-economic wellbeing of citizens in the advanced world and incidences of poverty and general underdevelopments in most African countries including Nigeria said that “developments in cutting edge technologies better known as frontier technologies have shown tendencies to widen the socio-economic gaps between the advanced and developing nations in one hand; and between the third world and developing countries on the other. Such technologies according to NASENI boss included Artificial Intelligence(AI); Robotics; the Internet of Things(IOT); Big Data; Block Chain; Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing); Autonomous Vehicles; Unmanned Aerial Vehicles(UAV); Gene Editing; 5G Network and the recent innovation of high-efficient solar cell that can produce a thousand times more power than the silicon based solar cells”

    Further in his address to the gathering called best minds in the Nigerian scientific community, the NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman put the scientists to tasks on the need for their responses to the present Nigeria economic challenges, saying: “Nigeria is yet to be prepared to catch the on-going technological wave to imitate, copy, use, adopt and adapt to the current Fourth Global Industrial revolution despite obvious opportunities and high potentials for sustainable development brought about by all the elements of economic transformation listed above.

    Haruna, a Professor of Electrical Engineering said Nigeria currently risks being perpetually at the receiving end of increasing inequalities between her and the developed world including being trapped in the escalating new digital divides now existing between “the technology have nations and the technology have nots” the latter is where most African countries belong except South Africa.

    Nigeria is a blessed country no doubts, he said. But the Covid-19 pandemic according to Prof. Haruna has further exposed the weaknesses of the third world nations the same pandemic which rather motivated some developing and developed countries to take advantage of subsequent global economic meltdown to transit much faster and earlier into the next industrial revolution thus expanding the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) dichotomy.

    His words: “Nigeria is a country so blessed with abundant natural resources; large population; talents; large geographical and suitable location as well as most friendly climate but still imports food, other consumables including by-products of crude oil. Myself as one of those saddled with the responsibilities of implementing strategic STI policies appropriate to our country’s predicament, I am pained that foreign technologies and equipment in our mobile telecommunication; online banking services; Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS); Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS); Remita payment platform; 2G to 4G and now 5G broadband deployment dominate our economy”

    The question is what inputs and ownership of manufacturing and or the technologies behind the above list belong to Nigerians or Africa? The answer is none. (sad).

    The implication of this scenario to our development, according to Haruna, is that the present and future generation of Nigerians will remain consumers of imported products. The lack of domestic endogenous capability and capacity to produce modern technologies and competitive industrial goods and services in Nigeria’s economy is fueling frightening poverty, joblessness and insecurity in Nigeria. Wealth creation, peace, progress and stability are bye products of knowledge-based economy and not commodity or raw material oriented and import dependent economy.

    The keynote paper however brought out hopes by illustrating some of the achievements of NASENI under Prof. Haruna which included various NASENI home-grown interventions in power, Agriculture, Education, Health and industrial sectors in Nigeria and with the funding coming in other sectors and many more will be immensely boosted. The Agency with the available resources had invested in human capacity development and also achieved a long list of scientific and technological breakthroughs leading into manufacturing of kinetic turbine, pre-paid meters, laboratory equipment and unmanned Aerial drones and other technological innovations based on research and development from NASENI. The Agency also intervened in producing 3-D masks, ventilators and environment disinfectants for the COVID-19 including the design and production locally electronic voting solution and currently working on locally produced jet engines and production of military hard-wares amongst other things.

    Professor Haruna concluded his address that “only home-grown solutions rooted in massive soft and hard STI infrastructure can rescue Nigeria and also Africa generally, from the current vicissitude. He recommended that it is only in building domestic endogenous capacity for Science and Technology in Nigeria, in particular, the capacity for Research and Development; Engineering design and fabrication; Technology Production; Technology Innovation and Industrial production that can solve security challenges, alleviate poverty and all other socio-economic problems bedeviling our nation”

    His last counsel in the keynote address were that “Nigeria must strive to establish and sustain the culture of competitive industrial economy that can produce and manufacture modern technologies and globally competitive industrial goods in Nigeria using enabling home-grown Science and Technology Innovation (STI) procedures”

  • NASENI, Indonesia revive collaboration on technology transfer to Nigeria

    NASENI, Indonesia revive collaboration on technology transfer to Nigeria

    Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to seek international collaboration in the area of technology transfer for the development of Nigeria economy, the Agency and the Indonesian Government have agreed to work together.

    NASENI is under direct supervision of President Buhari, who is the Chairman of its Governing Board.

    Today, at the NASENI Headquarters Abuja, the Indonesia Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Usra Hendra Harahap paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Vice Chairman/CE of NASENI, Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna where discussions were held on issues of transfer of technology to Nigeria by Indonesia, exchange of engineering principles, amongst others to create jobs, address poverty in Nigeria and also empower Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for Nigeria to manufacture products that can compete both at local and foreign markets.

    Also agreement for more collaborations were reached on exchange of ideas and innovation, technology transfer in various areas of interest for Nigeria such as Aircraft design, spare parts production, maintenance, repairs, mechanized agriculture, military vehicles, weaponry and ammunition, military vessels.

    In his welcome remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI disclosed that the relationship between NASENI and Indonesia dated back to the establishment of the Agency since 1992 as Nigeria adopted similar activities of PT.PINDAD of Indonesia, adding that NASENI also had benefited a lot from Indonesia technology know-hows. According to him, NASENI’s Small Hydro Power (SHP) Turbine was reverse engineered from the one procured from Indonesia after the initial training of NASENI engineers by Indonesia on manufacturing of Cross-Flow Turbine, which is currently in use at some of Nigeria dams for generation of power especially at the rural areas.

    He noted that Mr. President has mandated NASENI to seek collaboration in technology transfer on manufacturing and domestication of armoured personnel carriers from Indonesia and other equipment needed for manufacturing of fertilizer, aircraft, mechanized agriculture and irrigation system, adding that with the collaboration, Indonesia would help Nigeria acquire many more technologies for the development of Nigeria economy especially in the agricultural sector.

    Speaking on the purpose of the visit, the Indonesian Ambassador noted that after the EVC last visit to Indonesia Embassy in Nigeria, the Embassy received an update of proposal from PT. PINDAD Indonesia to establish a Memorandum of Understanding between PT. PINDAD and NASENI in Rural Multipurpose Mechanical Tools Projects (AMDESS) to help Nigerian farmers.

    He further explained that with transfer of technology agreement between Nigeria and Indonesia through NASENI especially in agriculture, Nigeria farmers would improve mechanized agriculture with AMDESS to enable them overcome inequality and develop the potential that exists in the country side to create economic resilience.

    He said “in Indonesia, this particular vehicle is popular to help farmers in growing their plantation and support harvest management. The vehicle can easily be converted because it is equipped with devices that can transmit power from the car to other machines.”

    Other areas, according to Dr. Harahap that the two countries could work together include coal fertilizer project which aimed at helping local farmers to increase productivity of various types of plants using coal-based fertilizer production technique; supply of finished products and semi-finished products from SOE’s to NASENI and joint development of product, transfer of technology etc.

    He said with the level of bilateral relationship existing between Nigeria and Indonesia, he was optimistic that the partnership between NASENI and Indonesia would be stronger and wider.

     

  • “Nigeria’s True Independence Hinges on Self-Reliance in Science, Research and Infrastructural Development” – Says Governor Ayade.

    “Nigeria’s True Independence Hinges on Self-Reliance in Science, Research and Infrastructural Development” – Says Governor Ayade.

    The Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Benedict Ayade has said that until research, science, technology and Infrastructure development form the bedrock of Nigeria’s economic development strategy, then, Nigeria has not attained true independence.
    Prof.Ayade said “what Nigeria had in 1960 as political independence was not complete until the country ends her over dependence on foreigners for everything.
    The Governor, as a recipient of Award of Excellent Performance was speaking today at the Appreciation and Award Day Ceremony organized by the three Trade Unions of the NASENI Headquarters, under the auspices of Joint Action Congress (JAC) where the Congress recognized those who had helped the Agency to attain its present status of national importance.
    The Governor while speaking on behalf of the rest of the awardees which included the Executive Vice Chairman/CE of NASENI, Engr.Prof.M.SHaruna (Lifetime Achiever Award), said that a nation is truly independent if it is not technologically dependent.
    According to Ayade, the independence of Nigeria in 1960 was a mere political independence and that is why the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has come to bridge the technology gaps.
    “Independence is when Nigeria becomes self-reliance in technology and engineering development”. He stressed.
    Prof. Ayade described Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna as “a colleague Professor and a gift to the Nigeria”.
    He said NASENI has come of age with the recent presidential and NEC approval to have her statutory dues and all what is provided in the Laws establishing her to have 1 % of the Federation Account.
    “Once that is implemented, NASENI will be in a position to begin the real research in science and engineering innovation to proffer solutions and innovate technologies that meet our needs as a nation.
    He said time had come when Africa and indeed Nigeria cannot continuously depend on foreigners to tell us what to do. Governor Ayade said Nigeria does not need a white man to direct her on what to do with the constant sunlight the country is enjoying. “With the massive sunlight we got here, we do not need a white man to come here and tell us how to tap the photovoltaic resources or how to convert it to electricity.
    He further asked: “How long should we continue to depend on external forces to be able to give us direction.? That is why NASENI is here to bridge the gaps, and also that is why I come in person to honour this award because as a professor of science, I need the fellowship with my colleague,
    Prof. Haruna who is also a professor in engineering and to say that we must stand strong as a nation”.
    The Governor however observed that the entire Africa continent depend on Nigeria as a nation and if Nigeria fails, Africans have failed, stressing that, Black is no longer a colour, but a representation of a people.
    Receiving Outstanding Performance Award, Governor Ayade, commended the
    efforts of NASENI, and pleaded that President Muhammed Buhari should fast-track the release of the 1% of the Federation Account approved
    for NASENI to enable it commence the development of science and technology across the country, noting that Cross River states needed indigenous technology to boost the mechanized agricultural value chains going on in the State presently.
    In his speech, Prof. M.S.Haruna, commended the Unions for the initiative to honour those who had contributed to the achievements made by the Agency,
    adding that it was a justification that the workers were committed to work hard, especially now that they have been given resources that they needed to demonstrate their capability to meet the demand and the
    challenges given to them.
    On the partnership with State Governors, Prof Haruna disclosed, “We have partnership with the Governors Forum and the collaboration is working.
    Other recipients of the awards included: Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, Mrs.Nonyem Onyechi who is the Coordinating Director, Planning & Business Development,NASENI, the Chairman, Senate committee on Science and Technology, Dr.Uche Ekwunife, the Chairman, House Committee on Science and Technology, Hon.Beni Lar, Dr Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, Director of Procurement, NASENI, and many others.
  • Nigeria Can Solve Her Security Problems by Building a Manufacturing Economy – Prof. Haruna.

    Nigeria Can Solve Her Security Problems by Building a Manufacturing Economy – Prof. Haruna.

    The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna has observed that the only long-lasting solution to the present security challenges and other socio-economic problems facing the country is to deliberately build a manufacturing-based economy that could engage the teeming youths, adding that, all the countries that had recorded economic growth did it through creativity, application of intellect, knowledge and technical know-how and not from their natural resources.

    Prof. Haruna said that “idle hands are devils workshop”, explaining that it was better to handle any problem right from its roots causes.

    While declaring open today the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institution (NASU) regular meeting of the Research and Projects Trade Group Council(RPTGC) held at NASENI headquarters in Abuja, he noted that many of the developed countries of the world had no natural resources but had evolved into enviable economies through investment in research and development or by the discreet use of technologies to explore other nations’ natural resources while they (developed countries) concentrated on development of their own citizens; talents, creative ingenuities and technical know-how.

    Expressing his gratitude to NASU for choosing NASENI to host its meeting, the EVC/CE of NASENI said this is the meeting of research and development institutions which is the singular solution to insecurity, lack of infrastructure and poverty eradication.

    He said all materials for construction of roads, building of infrastructure are based on technical know-how. “We can eradicate poverty if we look beyond our natural resources and work with research and development institutions. But NASENI cannot do it alone, we need collaboration and synergy with allied institutions”

    He said that the solution to all the problems facing Nigeria is in home-grown technology, integration and reverse engineering, stating that China was able to develop COVID 19 Vaccine because of their knowledge and technology.

    He however urged NASU to continue to tow the path of peace in solving all disputes as it was the only way to get government to do more than what they promised as well as support research and development projects of their various institutions.

    In his address, the Deputy President of NASU, Comrade Henry Okoyomon said that the regular meeting, no doubt, would afford the Union opportunity to rub minds on very topical issues bordering on welfare and well-being of members with a view to improve their standard of living.

    On insecurity, he said the current situation in the country was alarming and disturbing and called on the Federal Government to take drastic measures in addressing the issue and other challenges such as inadequate power supply, bad roads, and the imminent fuel subsidy removal amongst others.

    In his welcome address, the Chairman of NASU, NASENI Branch, Comrade Tongshaka Nenfot Joel who highlighted the achievements of the Union said the hosting by NASENI branch was another positive feather added to NASENI as a body.

     

  • NASENI, Plateau State Government Sign MoU to Establish Food Processing Equipment and Machinery Development Institute in Plateau State.

    NASENI, Plateau State Government Sign MoU to Establish Food Processing Equipment and Machinery Development Institute in Plateau State.

    As part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to diversify the economy thorough use of innovation and engineering resources in the country, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) today in Abuja signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Plateau State Government for the establishment of Food Processing Equipment & Machinery Development Institute(FOPEMDI) to be located in Jos, the State Capital.
    NASENI is an Agency under direct Supervision of President Muhammadu Buhari who is Chairman of the Governing Board of NASENI.
    The new Institute was recently approved by President Buhari amongst other 12 equipment development institutes to be established nationwide, two per geo-political zone of the country.
    The Executive Vice Chairman/CE of NASENI, Engr. Prof.Mohammed Sani Haruna also disclosed that by 1st quarter of year 2022, the Institute will take off effectively.
    With the signing of agreement by the two parties, NASENI will set up indigenous equipment and machines facilities for processing of food in Plateau State and at the same time create employment opportunities for thousands of youths.
    The MoU will ensure that both parties collaborate towards emergence of entrepreneurs, sourcing of start-up capital for commercialization of new innovative products, sourcing of potential investors for commercialization of products and provision of business development activities in the food processing sub-sector.
    Signing on behalf of NASENI, Prof Haruna said that FOPEMDI apart from taking off in the first quarter of 2022, he disclosed that the MoU would explore other related areas for collaboration between NASENI and Plateau state Government.
    According to him “the MoU will focus on transfer of technology and brokerage, technology acquisition, entrepreneurial training, technical and managerial back ups from NASENI to make the Institute succeed.”
    He said Plateau State had shown tremendous interest and also laid the right foundation for transfer of NASENI technologies and engineering resources to the State to be used indirectly in developing the nation’s economy”.
    The Honourable Commissioner for Science and Technology Plateau state, Hon. Gyang Dung Musa who represented the State Governor, Dr. Simon Lalong and signed the MoU on behalf of the State Government, said the people of the State were patiently waiting for the take-off of the institute, corroborating the EVC of NASENI that “with the signing of the agreement, thousands of Plateau State youths will be trained and empowered soon”
    He stated that Governor Lalong was excited about the upcoming Institute and had devised all necessary measures to ensure that the institute was established while pledging to keep supporting NASENI’s innovations, adding that the Governor had approved the institute would be built on same site that NASENI visited before.
    He thanked President Buhari for hearing the plea of the people of Plateau State by approving the setting-up of the institute in Jos, the State Capital.
    Other areas of collaborations between NASENI and Plateau State Government as identified in the MoU included Value Chain for Food Processing Technologies; Appropriate Technologies for Industrial clusters; Farming Equipment Development to support Agro-allied SMEs and industries; Renewable Energy including Solar Photovoltaic (PV)Panels production; Skill Acquisition including Foundry Technology amongst others.

  • Onu inaugurates NASENI’s N354m Technology Orientation Centre in Abuja

    Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, says science and technology is the key that will enable Nigerians to become the true masters of their own destinies.

    Onu said this on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Technology Orientation Centre (TOC) built by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in Abuja.

    He said that “no country has ever become truly great without science and technology”.

    He said the building of the centre showed that science, technology and innovation could drive Nigeria’s search for a new beginning.

    “It shows that when challenged, Nigerians can break new frontiers and create new opportunities that will move Nigeria away from a resource-based to a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy,” he said.

    “I believe that if we pay greater attention to innovation and vigorously pursue the conversion of research findings into viable goods and services, we can recreate the middle class, strengthen the Naira and secure a better future for ourselves and generations yet unborn,” he said.

    The minister said the centre would help the entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators gain greater access to the necessary processes that would fast track the commercialisation of inventions using indigenous technologies.

    “This will help create jobs, create wealth, reduce poverty and stimulate growth in the economy.

    “This will enable us develop the skilled human resources that will stimulate research and development as well as drive the new National Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap (2017 to 2030) necessary to help diversify the Nigerian economy for sustainable growth,” he added.

    The Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Haruna, said that the centre, which was conceived in 2013, was built at with over N354 million.

    According to him, the TOC houses 700 collapsible seat capacity multipurpose auditorium, multimedia facility, exhibition hall, virtual reality workstation, offices, car park, among others.

    He described the centre as a national resource to serve as a hub for gathering, displaying and assessment of the brightest of minds, innovation and products specifically from new and emerging technologies.

    Haruna said it would also determine their relevance to the economy and design a path to adopt and infuse them into the economy.

    He said the centre was dedicated to providing budding entrepreneurs, academics, researchers and investors with enabling environment for interactions, design, application and exhibition of advanced manufacturing technologies with their accompanying products and services.

    “To us, it is a meeting point between arts, creativity, science, engineering, technology, innovation and prosperity,” Haruna said.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Robert Boroffice, commended NASENI for the feat.

    Boroffice, who assured the agency of the National Assembly’s support, said if the country failed to fund science, technology and innovation adequately, “we are going nowhere”.

    “We are good at consuming and not producing. Therefore, it is high time we put in place both intellectual and physical infrastructure to produce locally,” Boroffice said.

    The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, described science, technology and communications as Siamese twins that rely on each other.

    Shittu said though NASENI had remained relatively silence on its achievements over the years, he was impressed by the quality of its products.

    He urged the agency to ensure that it integrated local innovators and inventors in its system toward adding values to the laudable effort.

    “I also want to challenge you because during the civil war, we had so many innovators in the east and it looks like after the war they were forgotten.

    “I think NASENI needs to look for these great minds that can add values to what the agency is doing,” Shittu charged.

    The minister, who expressed regrets that common tooth picks were still being imported into the country, said: “these are things that ordinarily should be produced locally”.

    “Mr President has given charge that we should produce whatever we consume.

    “I commend the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for drastically reducing the percentage of rice and fertilisers imported into the country to just 10 per cent,” he said.

    He, however, urged NASENI to ensure that basic items consumed in the country were produced locally.