Nigeria Deepens Technology Drive as NASENI Expands Local Manufacturing and Innovation

The Federal Government is intensifying efforts to use science, technology and innovation to transform Nigeria into a more productive and self-reliant economy, with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) playing a central role in the drive.Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this during a Presidential Media Team tour of NASENI’s headquarters in Abuja.The tour was organised to give members of the public a closer look at government projects and allow citizens to assess the progress being made in areas considered critical to Nigeria’s economic transformation.Technology at the heart of industrial developmentIdris said the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda is focused on converting policies into practical projects capable of generating employment, encouraging innovation and expanding economic opportunities.He described NASENI as an important institution in the government’s industrialisation strategy, particularly because of its work across local manufacturing, renewable energy, agricultural mechanisation, digital technology and technical skills development.According to the minister, Nigeria must move beyond dependence on imported goods and strengthen its capacity to design, manufacture and export products.“We want Nigerians to see for themselves how government policies are being translated into tangible projects, jobs, innovation and opportunities,” Idris said.He added that greater public engagement with government projects would help strengthen transparency and accountability.Building a production-driven economyThe minister said industrialisation, technology and youth empowerment remain important components of the government’s economic transformation plans.He noted that creating the right environment for investment and enterprise development would be essential to generating sustainable employment and improving Nigeria’s productive capacity.Idris also commended NASENI for promoting indigenous engineering and technological solutions, saying such efforts could reduce the country’s dependence on imported technology while creating opportunities for Nigerian businesses and innovators.NASENI expands technology and manufacturing projectsNASENI’s Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the agency is pursuing a practical approach to industrial development that combines local manufacturing, technology transfer, healthcare innovation and the commercialisation of research.Halilu disclosed that NASENI’s projects currently cover eight major industrial sectors across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory.He said the agency is focused on developing products for the Nigerian market, increasing local content and establishing production facilities capable of competing internationally.“Our goal is to build sustainable industries by designing products for the Nigerian market, assembling them locally, gradually increasing local content and creating factories that can compete globally,” Halilu said.According to him, this approach has already contributed to the establishment of more than 20 factories within a relatively short period.From research to commercial opportunitiesThe expansion of NASENI’s activities reflects a broader push to ensure that research and innovation produce practical economic benefits.Rather than keeping technological research within laboratories, the agency is seeking to move ideas into commercial production, create new industries and develop local expertise.This approach could have implications for several sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, renewable energy, manufacturing and digital technology.For young Nigerians, greater investment in technology and technical skills could also create new opportunities in engineering, manufacturing, research, software development and other technology-enabled industries.A long-term technology strategyThe government’s renewed focus on indigenous technology comes as Nigeria seeks to diversify its economy and reduce its vulnerability to imported goods and technologies.For NASENI, the challenge will be to ensure that its factories, research programmes and technology-transfer initiatives achieve sustainable commercial success.If the strategy delivers as planned, increased local production and stronger technology capacity could help Nigeria build industries that serve the domestic market while developing products and services capable of competing across Africa and beyond.The Federal Government believes that strengthening local innovation and manufacturing is essential to creating a more productive, competitive and technology-driven Nigerian economy.