President Muhammadu Buhari has said the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) will be a pivotal legacy his administration will bequeath to the next administration in 2023.
The president spoke on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the President Muhammadu Buhari Technology and Innovation Complex at NASENI Headquarters, Idu Industrial Zone.
He stated that the agency, under his administration, was being repositioned to become a technology and innovation hub for national development.
“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 Africa Union’s 2063 Agenda and United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, 2030,” he said.
Buhari, who decried that many challenges were militating against NASENI and preventing the agency from achieving her full potential over the years, assured of his administration’s determination to reverse the trend.
“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.”
The president, who was impressed with the great strides the agency had made under this administration, said NASENI had started domesticating foreign technologies and product development through backward integration.
“The recent attraction of 250 Czeck Koruna or $10.5 million research and development grant to Nigeria is evidence that our transformation is achieving results in building a competitive agency.”
The president, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, also lauded the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Mohammad Sani Haruna, for his exemplary leadership, dynamism and foresight in advancing the cause of the agency.
He directed the conferment of the Excellence Service Award on him and a National Honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic at the last Federal Executive Council of December 2022.
In his welcome address, the executive vice chairman acknowledged the president’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.
He assured the president of the agency’s commitment in contributing towards overcoming the country’s development challenges.
“Furthermore, NASENI is ready and will God willing, soon provide innovative technology solution to stopping crude oil theft and bunkering, vandalization of power lines as well as surveillance and monitoring devices for our rails, roads and seaways,” Haruna declared.
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