The Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF in Nigeria, Mr. Boss Mustapha has reiterated the expectations of the Nigerian government from the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure NASENI in developing new technologies, machines and products to promote diversification of the Nigeria economy.
Mr. Mustapha said this at a three Day Retreat for Technical Board Members & Managing Directors of NASENI development Institutes.
While declaring the retreat officially open, 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.
“A home initiated 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,” Mr. Mustapha said.
Only recently President Buhari approved the allocation of one percent federal revenue dedicated to fund R&Ds activities of NASENI amongst other enabling provisions.
Boss 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.
“Our nation is moving steadily toward providing industrial leadership for the African continent which the world eagerly awaits,” he said.
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.
The Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. 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,” Prof Haruna said.
The Deputy Director Information, NASENI, Mr. Olusegun Ayeoyenikan in a statement said the 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.
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.
