From left: Deputy Director, Manufacturing Services, Engineering Directorate, NASENI, Dr. Salawu Morufu; Director, Manufacturing Services Department, Engineering  Directorate, Engr. Dr. Olayode Olasupo; Director, Information, New Media & Protocol, Mr. Segun Ayeoyenikan; Research Director, Engr. Prof. Abdulmalik Onuwe; Prof. Abass Alade, Department of Chemical Engineering, LAUTECH;  Research Director, Engr. Dr. Samuel O. Olusunle; Research Director, Dr. Patrick Okwu; Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Physics, Nigeria Maritime University Okerenkoko, Delta State, Dr. Suleman Olasunkanmi; Associate Prof Jimoh Tijani, Department of Chemistry, FUT, Minna; Deputy Director/head, Research Laboratory Development Department, Science Infrastructure Directorate, NASENI, Dr. Bakare Oladipo and another staff of FUT, Minna after the presentation of the products at the Agency’s headquarters, Abuja, recently.

Researchers from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology LAUTECH, Ogbomosho, Oyo State and Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State have showcased their research and development (R&D) products funded by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure NASENI.

The presentations which took place at Technology Orientation Centre (TOC), NASENI headquarters, Abuja recently was witnessed by the Agency’s top management led by Research Directors which marked the culmination of a collaborative effort that began in April 2023 when NASENI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three Professors from the universities.

Details of the presentations show that research by Professor Abass Alade of the Department of Chemical Engineering, LAUTECH, focused on: “Treatment of Aquaculture Waste Water Using Waste Banana and Plantain Stem Juice Composite Through Integrated Filtracoagulation Cascade System”; while that of Associate Professor Jimoh Oladejo Tijani of the Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State wascon: “Development of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes-Iron Tungstate Composite for Industrial Wastewater Purification”.

Meanwhile research by Dr. Sanusi Kolawole of the Department of Pure and Applied Physics, LAUTECH, focused on: “Development of Nano-coating Green Urea Fertilizer for Agricultural Production Enhancement”.

Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu represented by Research Director, Dr Samuel O. Olusunle, in his welcome address, appreciated the Professors for making judicious use of the funds for publication of their research works and development of the products.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Professor Abass Alade expressed gratitude for to the agency for the opportunity.

“We are happy to have this great chance to show who we are and what we have done, and we deeply appreciated every input from NASENI, which has added to our body of knowledge and expanded our capacity”, he said.

Professor Alade also spoke about other key achievements of the projects, which include but not limited to agency-academia linkage, which is feasible and sustainable; facility development in the areas of acquisition of equipment and resources; and human resource development of undergraduates and postgraduates who participated in the research works.

He called for more funding from NASENI to further mass produce the products and to commercialize them thorough the tripartite relationship between NASENI, academia and private sector operators.

Also speaking at the event, Director, Research of the Agency, Patrick Okwu thanked the researchers for their partnership and encouraged them to include production costs in their next presentations to make the information more accessible to the general public.

On his part, NASENI Research Director, Prof Abdulmalik Onuwe, expressed enthusiasm for the NASENI-university collaboration and emphasized the importance of expanding the research deliverables to benefit the manufacturing sector.

While also speaking at the event, Deputy Director/head of the Research Laboratory Development Department, Science Infrastructure Directorate, NASENI, Dr. Bakare Hassan Oladipo, expressed gratitude to the EVC/CEO for the collaboration.

“Showcasing these research and development products underscores NASENI’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration between Nigeria’s top academic institutions and the Agency’s research and development efforts”, he said.