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Executive Vice Chairman, NASENI, Khalil Halilu
The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Khalil Halilu, has said the agency’s branded commercial products which have been unveiled are market-ready.
He also said the products had been certified by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria.
Halilu stated this on Thursday, in Abuja, while playing host to members of the House of Representatives Committee on NASENI. He told them that the agency’s branded commercial products went through due diligence and are market-ready.
Amongst the recently unveiled NASENI products included laptops, Android smartphones, lithium batteries, LED solar street lights, solar irrigation systems, electric bicycles, and electric Keke (passenger and cargo types) among others.
According to Halilu, NASENI has been at the forefront of driving Nigeria’s technological advancement and industrialisation, adding that “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.”
He further hinted the lawmakers that 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 Commercialization, thereby engaging the services of the private sector by partnering with them to ensure that we deliver on our mandate.”
He also noted that about 35 products of NASENI under his watch are market-ready. “We are ready for the Nigerian market and we want the honourable members to be our first ambassadors through patronage and others. Also, we are establishing showrooms in all 36 states of the federation for the marketing of our products. For every activity we do, we have a commercial plan. We don’t want our products to end up on the shelves, but to get to the end users.”
Highlighting NASENI achievements Halilu listed some of them to include; innovation and research development, product commercialisation, renewable energy projects and capacity building.
He, however, 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.
Reacting, the Chairman of the House Committee on NASENI, Hon. 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 the Defense/Security Sector, Agricultural Sector, Infrastructural Sector and other areas of human endeavours.
The lawmaker further added that it would 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.
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 would strengthen the establishment Act to enable the agency to deliver effectively.
“However, while the committee will continually give all necessary support periodically, it will demand 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 to expand, deepen and create an enduring part for sustainable technological advancement, thereby enabling the nation to become an Industrial hub amongst the comity of nations”, he said.
