President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, inaugurated the Technology and Innovation Complex of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in Abuja.
The Technology and Innovation complex is named after the president.
The president declared that the NASENI would be a pivotal legacy his administration would bequeath to the next administration in 2023.
He said that his administration is repositioning the Agency to become a Technology and Innovation Hub for national development.
“This is one pivotal legacy of this administration.
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“With this complex and the 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 attaining the Africa Union’s 2063 Agenda.
“With it, Nigeria will also meet the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, 2030,” the President said.
He decried NASENI’s inability to attain full potential over the years but assured of his administration’s determination to reverse the trend.
“NASENI has a long history of establishment and has been in existence for over 30 years now.
“But it has been facing many challenges mitigating against the realisation of her full potential in line with the Act that established it.
“Under my Chairmanship, NASENI is undergoing reinvention and transformation to become a Technology and Innovation Hub for national development.
“Consequently, we have strategically repositioned NASENI to develop local capacity in machine building and fabrication.
“Machine fabrication is critical to Nigeria’s Industrial development.
“NASENI is now domesticating foreign technologies and product development through backward integration,” Buhari said.
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According to him, the recent attraction of a $10.5 million Research and Development grant to Nigeria is evidence that his administration’s transformation is achieving results.
“NASENI has lived up to its expectations and has performed well.
“The Agency has invented useful and historic intelligence and defence-related equipment and devices.
“It has also engineered, in collaboration with reputable organisations, Armoured Personnel Carrier with advanced features and Mine Resistant Ambushed Protected APC, among others,” he further stated.
President Buhari praised the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Mohammad Haruna, for his exemplary leadership and foresight in advancing the cause of the Agency.
“I commend you and direct the conferment of Excellence Service Award on you
“A National Honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic.
“The OFR is also to be conferred on you at the last Federal Executive Council of Dec. 2022.”
Speaking earlier, Haruna acknowledged Buhari’s commitment for deploying Science, Technology and Innovation to the centre stage of Nigeria’s socio-economic activities.
He said that it was the first time a Nigerian President was visiting the Agency.
“You are the first Head of Government to have ever visited any facility of NASENI in the last 31 years.
“You have demonstrated a departure from a commodity-based economy to a manufacturing and knowledge-based economy.”
He assured the President of the Agency’s commitment to contributing towards overcoming the country’s development challenges.
“NASENI is ready and will, God willing, soon provide innovative technology solutions to stopping crude oil theft and bunkering.”
He added that the agency would also find solutions to the vandalisation of power lines and surveillance.
According to him, the Agency would equally produce monitoring devices for rails, roads and seaways.
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