The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure NASENI, Mr. Khalil Halilu, has urged the management staff to put forward ideas on how to provide alternative fuels to power vehicles.
Halilu stated that the move is in support of the priorities of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to reduce the cost of living for Nigerians.
He stated this as he started receiving briefings from the Managing Directors of the Agency’s 10 Development Institutes, situated in Enugu, Minna, Awka, Okene, Nnewi, Kano, Jalingo, Akure, Ilesha and Nasarawa.
Halilu said; “Our Institutes are the engines of NASENI’s innovation and these briefings by each Institute are critical as we work together to craft the future of NASENI, as it relates to delivering on the President’s socio-economic agenda.”
In addition to the Managing Directors, Team Leads of various NASENI projects and the Agency’s Research Directors, also made presentations to Halilu on their various projects and efforts.
The briefings, which commenced on Monday are taking place ahead of the EVC’s planned tour of NASENI facilities across the institutes scheduled to commence in October.
Also on Tuesday, September 19, Halilu inaugurated a Committee to look into staff welfare, as part of steps to fulfil his pledge, upon assuming office, to ensure that NASENI becomes “a public sector employer of choice in Nigeria.”
He tasked the Committee made up exclusively of middle-level and junior staff of NASENI on producing a Human Resources revamp plan for NASENI.
He said; “Our junior staff are indeed the ones on the frontline of our work, bearing the biggest burdens, and therefore deserving of special attention, support and welfare.”
To round off the week, Halilu paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji on Friday September 22, at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.
Commenting on the meeting, which discussed opportunities for collaboration in advancing research in methanol production, lithium mining, and natural medicine, Halilu said, both institutions were “keen to jointly commercialise existing research outputs.
“I have no doubt that NASENI has a strong and committed partner, in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.”
Also Halilu met a young Nigerian innovator based in Maiduguri, Borno State, Mustapha Gajibo, who specializes in converting petrol-fired vehicles to use gas and solar energy.
“There’s no limit to what young Nigerians can achieve in science and technology, and at NASENI we want to be a part of these inspiring stories from every corner of the country,” he added.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
