The NASENI new Administrative building, named after President Muhammadu Buhari at NASENI headquarters and the cutting of the Commissioning tape by President Muhammadu Buhari along with the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Haruna

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed hope that Nigeria would soon be a major player in the sphere of Science, Technology and Innovation following the achievements of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in recent times.

President Buhari said the Agency was repositioned to make Nigeria become Technology and Innovation Hub in Africa even as he lauded the Innovative drive of NASENI management under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive, Prof.Mohammed Haruna.

The President spoke in Abuja while commissioning the new administrative building of the Agency named after him.

The complex called Muhammadu Buhari Technology and Innovation Complex is located at the NASENI Headquarters, Idu Industrial Zone, Abuja.

The President said the feat achieved so far by the Agency was a pivotal legacy which his administration would bequeath to the next administration in 2023.

According to NASENI Chief Executive “President Buhari is the first Nigeria leader to visit and inspect any facilities, manufactured products at NASENI headquarters since the inception”

President Buhari expressed confidence about NASENI’s capacity to re-engineer a new technology-based economy for Nigeria “We are sure that these advanced Science and Engineering Core facilities will assist our nation in the attainment of Africa Union’s 2063 Agenda and United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, 2030”

“NASENI has a long history of establishment and has been in existence for over 30 years now, but the agency has been facing so many challenges that were mitigating against the realisation of her full potential in line with the Act that established the Agency”

He however noted that under his Chairmanship, NASENI was undergoing a 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, which is critical to Nigeria’s Industrial development.” he said.

Impressed with the great strides the Agency has made under this administration, President Buhari stated that “NASENI is now domesticating foreign technologies and product development through backward integration,” adding that “the recent attraction of 250 Czeck Koruna or $10.5 Million US Dollar Research and Development grant to Nigeria is an evidence that our transformation is achieving results in building competitive Agency.”

According to the President, “NASENI, under my watch as the Chairman of the Governing Council has lived up to its expectations and has performed well.”

“The Agency has invented useful and historic intelligence and defence-related equipment and devices and has engineered, in collaboration with reputable organisations, Armoured Personnel Carrier with advanced features and Mine Resistant Ambushed Protected APC, among others”

President Buhari also commended NASENI for its innovative drive in the production of equipment needed in the agricultural sector, Energy, Power and Home Grown Technology Programmes of his Administration through the fabrication of machinery, equipment and other useful devices.

“The Agency is currently implementing Smart Irrigation Projects for multi-crop season farming; the National Tractor Recovery, Rehabilitation and Redeployment Innovation, in collaboration with Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending,” adding that the “assembly of two Helicopters towards first Made In Nigeria Helicopter and the development of Solar cells for 100% Solar Module production, using local raw materials are among patriotic contributions to Nigeria’s transition to a manufacturing economy.”

“The present administration has invested heavily in diverse infrastructural facilities: roads, rails, water and aviation , among other sectors of our economy.

“After this administration, resourcing and sustainability of these critical Infrastructures will present a challenge on the medium to long term basis.

“But with our deliberate repositioning of NASENI to be at par with other similar agencies of government across the world and optimal performance, we are convinced that the future maintenance of our key national infrastructure are assured.” he said

President Buhari commended the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna for his exemplary leadership, dynamism and foresight in advancing the cause of the Agency.

According to him “I commend you and direct the conferment of Excellence Service Award on you and a National Honour of OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC, which is to be conferred on you at the last Federal Executive Council of December 2022.

In his welcome address, the Executive Vice Chairman, expressed joy over President Buhari’s commitment and approval of funds needed to redefine the new face of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and bring the feat achieved to the centre stage of national discuss

Haruna disclosed that President Buhari was the first Nigeria leader to visit the Agency in 31 years, saying the act was a demonstration of the leadership quality and direction for others to emulate by the President.

“You are the first and the only Head of Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to have ever paid a visit to any facility of NASENI across the country in the 31 years of the Agency’s existence”

“You have already demonstrated a departure from commodity-based economy and therefore placing priorities on innovations and Inventions towards manufacturing and knowledge-based economy.” Prof. Haruna said

NASENI, he said, was ready, and God willing would soon provide innovative technology solution to stopping crude oil theft and bunkering, vandalization of power lines as well as surveillance and monitoring devices for rails, roads and seaways”

The Technology complex Commissioned consists of state-of-the-art facilities, including the Virtual Manufacturing Laboratory, Virtual Reality Laboratory, High Powered Computing Laboratory and Fourth Industrial Revolution Laboratory.

Others he said include: Pre-fabrication Laboratory and Integrated Virtual Private Network ( IVPN) Control Centre.

The goodwill message from the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan was delivered by Senator Uche Ekwunife, Chairman Senate Committee on Science and Technology, while the Minister, Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Bello and Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari were amongst dignitaries at the commissioning ceremony.