…FG tasks entrepreneurs to commercialize agency’s R&Ds
By Hillary Asemota
In what Stakeholders and Who is Who in Nigeria’s Engineering space have termed a historically new cusp in Nigeria’s industrialization trajectory, the just concluded robust brainstorming session of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), which attracted the best of the country’s infrastructure experts and online participants can only be described as historic and the beckons of a new dawn in Nigeria’s development dynamics.
While speaking at the event, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Mr. Boss Mustapha, reiterated that a lot was being expected from NASENI by Nigerians, entrepreneurs, industries, SMEs and the Federal Government for the agency to lead Nigeria in industrialization paths.
This is even as the SGF assured management and staff of NASENI of President Muhammadu Buhari’s consistent supports in developing new technologies, machines and products to promote diversification of the Nigeria economy and to chart new ways forward in the current drive by the administration to industrialize the country.
A Three (3)-Day Retreat for Technical Board Members and Managing Directors of NASENI development Institutes was just concluded at the weekend, aimed at repositioning NASENI to take on lead roles as the agency of government charged with the responsibilities of providing capital goods, equipment, machines and process technologies needed for industrial revolution of Nigeria.
Only recently President Muhammadu Buhari approved the allocation of 1% federal revenue dedicated to fund Research and Development activities (R/Ds) of NASENI.
In the 1992 Act establishing the agency, it behoves on it as the only purpose-built agency of the government by law to carry out R&Ds works and activities including reverse engineering in the areas of capital goods production, technologies, manufacturing of machines and equipment needed to run factories and industries in Nigeria aimed at making the country become self-reliant.
The SGF charged NASENI to lead Nigeria in the popularization of home-initiated and home-sustained industrial goods, machines, technologies, equipment and reverse engineering of key processes to achieve sustainable economic recovery of Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari is the Chairman of NASENI Governing Board whom the SGF disclosed had reaffirmed his support to the agency’s resolve towards charting a new path for the Nigeria’s industrial revolution.
“A home-grown industrialization is not only key to achieving a sustainable economic recovery for Nigeria but also it is the secret of the Asian Tigers, the magic of Europe and the culture of the Americans” he emphasized.
Mustapha, represented by the Permanent Secretary Cabinet Affairs Office, Mr. James Sule said the theme of the retreat “NASENI-The Vehicle for Nigeria’s industrialization” resonated with the federal government’s efforts towards positioning Nigerians to benefit from the fourth industrial revolution and to give assurance to the global community that “our nation is moving steadily toward providing industrial leadership for the African continent which the world eagerly awaits”
The SGF directed that discussions by participants in the retreat must further strengthen President Buhari’s agenda and developmental goals whose priority areas included good governance, building a thriving and sustainable economy; enhancing social inclusion, reducing poverty; enlarging agricultural output for food security and export, attaining energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products as well as expanding access to quality education, affordable healthcare and productivity of Nigerians.
Participants at the retreat included Forty-five (45) technical board members and their chairmen in the nine (9) R&D institutes known as industrial development complexes of NASENI through which the Agency carries out its operations and mandate. Other participants included the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Haruna, five (5) Coordinating Directors in the NASENI headquarters, Project Managers of eleven (11) NASENI emerging development Institutes and other management staff of the Agency.
In his welcome address, Haruna said that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed full implementation of all statutory provisions of the establishment act of NASENI in line with global best practices for the agency to compete favourably and deliver on its mandate of providing enabling environment for home initiated and home sustained industrialization of Nigeria.
He noted that the mandate of the Agency was in the areas of capital goods research and development, adding that NASENI was established in the model and fashion of similar agencies in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Japan and Thailand. Those similar organizations, he explained, were at the forefront of provision of research and development works leading to their inventions and innovations of new and emerging technologies resulting in their economic prosperities and stabilities.
“These countries operate knowledge-based economies and as such, their sources of foreign exchange include advanced technologies such as passengers and military aircrafts; autonomous vehicles; conventional and renewable energy products, etc. NASENI is now being equipped to be at the forefront of leading Nigeria to the League of industrialized nations and hence the timely constitution and this orientation for members of Technical Board of Directors” he said.
A communique issued at the end of the 3-Day retreat was aimed at jump-starting the industrialization vehicle of a new Nigeria industrial economy and hence participants resolved that NASENI, going forward should enhance its visibility and participation in the global market and as well chart a new path for the Nation’s industrialization reforms; it must prioritize its need-oriented products such as electric vehicles, microchips, solar cells among other Research and Development (R&D) Products. Also, the Agency should Promote R&Ds through home grown technologies to boost confidence in made-in-Nigeria products and discourage importation of similar goods, even as it is pertinent that it collaborates in the areas of innovation, production and technology transfer to SME’s through Private Public Partnership (PPP).
The Retreat held at Royal Institute for Training & Human Capital Development, Zuma Rock Resort, Niger State further resolved that all Technical Board Members and Managing Directors of NASENI Institutes must interact more regularly, learn from one another and to share knowledge with the view to sustain the new direction for NASENI; that members of the Technical Board of Directors (MTBDs) should continue to use their wealth of experience, technical know-how and exposure to guide the Research and Development (R&D) directions of the Institutes in line with the mandates of NASENI and mono mandate of the development institutes, towards Nigeria’s transition to a manufacturing economy.
The communique further indicated that NASENI should create baseline indices for Development
Institutes to set targets and measure performance and enhance the Synergy between NASENI, Universities, Polytechnics, Research
Institutions and the industries; that each institute should identify at least one need oriented product for full development and commercialization within a maximum time frame of 24 months for immediate production and Commercialization; NASENI is to establish Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for all its processes in line with good corporate governance and business codes of ethics, develop and automate a dispassionate risk
assessment processes to enhance internal control mechanism to prevent
corruption and determine appropriate compensation mechanisms for all
Staff and engender high moral and discipline in staff of all categories.
The retreat was indeed a remarkable event which brought together stakeholders under one environment to brainstorm and chart a new direction for NASENI. Participants appreciated the work done by NASENI so far and resolved that Nigerians had high expectations of NASENI for the much-needed industrialization of the country and expressed hope that NASENI is repositioned for improved service delivery.
Signed: Mr. Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, Deputy Director, Information, NASENI.
