From left: Executive Vice Chairman/CEO National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu and Chairman, House Committee on NASENI, Taofik Ajilesoro and other members of the committee inspecting the NASENI Solar Irrigation System during an oversight visit to the NASENI headquarters, Abuja, Thursday, May 6, 2024.

Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu has assured that the Agency’s branded commercial products that have been unveiled are market ready and have been certified by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria SON.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on NASENI has pledged its support to the Agency in its bid to flood the country’s market with its locally manufactured products.

Speaking when he played host to the members House Committee on NASENI, who paid an oversight visit to the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja, Thursday to inspect its products and projects, assured that NASENI was working towards robust a research in technological advancement not only in the defence and security sector, but also in the agricultural, Infrastructure and other sectors of the economy.

Among the recently unveiled NASENI products included NASENI Laptop, Android Smartphone, Lithium Battery, LED Solar Street Light, Solar Irrigation System, Electric Bicycle, Electric tricycle (Keke), which comprise both passenger and cargo models. The EVC also used the visit to showcase two newly branded NASENI electric vehicles EV to the lawmakers.

Halilu said: “NASENI has been at the forefront of driving Nigeria’s technological advancement and industrialisation. “Over the past few months, we have implemented several key initiatives aimed at transforming our operations from primarily research-based activities to commercialization of our products and services.

“This transformation is essential for us to contribute more effectively to the national economy and to achieve sustainable development goals, 85 per cent of NASENI projects are on counterpart funding.

“We don’t want to invest alone in what we do and that is why we work with our 3C’s principle of Collaboration, Creation and Commercialisation, thereby engaging the services of private sector by partnering with them to ensure that we deliver on our mandate.”

He disclosed NASENI under his watch has already developed about 35 products, which are market ready.

“We are ready for the Nigerian market and we want the committee members to be our first ambassadors through patronage and others. Also, we are establishing show-rooms in all the 36-states of the federation for the marketing of our products. Every activity we carry out; we have commercial plan. We don’t want our products to end up on the shelves, but to get to the end users”, he further assured.

Highlighting the achievements of NASENI so far, the EVC/CEO listed some of them to include: Innovation and Research Development, Product Commercialization, Renewable Energy Projects and Capacity Building. He called on the lawmakers to keep supporting NASENI to deliver both capital and consumer goods to the nation, including creating jobs for the teeming Nigerian youths.

Chairman of the committee, Otunba Abimbola Ajilesoro, said the essence of the oversight visit was to have an opportunity to interact with the Agency towards robust research in technological advancement in Defence and security sector, agricultural, infrastructure sector and other areas of human endeavours, adding that it will in turn save and bring in much needed foreign exchange that will impact positively on the economy.

He pointed out that the committee has been following the activities of the Agency.

“We have been hearing NASENI branded products, NASENI Laptops, NASENI Android Smartphone, NASENI Lithium Battery, NASENI LED Solar Street Light, etc. The Committee deemed it necessary to see for ourselves, these products and other technologies that will enhance Nigeria’s economy”, the chairman said

Speaking on the mandates of NASENI Development Institutes, he assured NASENI of the Committee’s readiness to support it in the areas of Appropriation and Legislative framework that will strengthen the Establishment Act to enable the Agency deliver effectively.

“However, while the committee will continually give all necessary support periodically, it will demand for accountability and value for money in the implementation of its lofty programmes embedded in the mission and vision of the Agency. This would enable us expand, deepen and create an enduring part for a sustainable technological advancement, thereby enabling the nation to become an Industrial hub amongst the comity of Nations”, he said.