Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The executive vice chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Mr. Khalil Halilu.
The executive vice chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Halilu has urged Nigeria to end its dependence on imported renewable energy technologies by investing in local manufacturing, warning that the country’s clean energy transition will remain incomplete unless it is anchored on industrialisation.
Halilu made the call while delivering a keynote address at the Mustapha Abdullahi Energy Leadership Fellowship in Abuja, where he argued that Nigeria must move beyond simply deploying renewable energy technologies to producing them domestically to unlock jobs, economic growth and long-term energy security.
Speaking on the theme “Energy Infrastructure, Systems and Integration,” the NASENI chief said Nigeria’s energy future depends on building a fully integrated ecosystem that combines innovation, research, manufacturing, financing, policy and skilled human capital.
He commended the organisers of the fellowship, particularly director-general of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi and the national youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Dayo Israel, for investing in young leaders capable of driving the country’s energy transformation.
Halilu explained that visionary leadership remains the foundation for building sustainable infrastructure and positioning Nigeria for global competitiveness in the emerging clean energy economy.
Highlighting the scale of Africa’s energy challenge, he noted that more than 600 million people across sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to electricity, while the continent requires an estimated USD15 billion annually to bridge the energy access gap by 2035.
Although Africa has made progress, with installed solar capacity now exceeding 20 gigawatts and solar photovoltaic projects accounting for 62 per cent of renewable energy investments in 2024, Halilu said the pace of implementation must increase significantly to meet growing demand.
Turning to Nigeria, he expressed concern over the country’s rising expenditure on imported renewable energy technologies, describing the trend as a missed opportunity for industrial development.
“In 2025 alone, Nigeria spent over ₦400 billion importing solar technologies. In just the first half of 2026, that figure had already exceeded ₦200 billion. These are not just import statistics; they represent factories that were never built, jobs that were never created, and opportunities that left our economy,” he said.
Halilu stressed that sustainable industrial development cannot be achieved through infrastructure deployment alone, noting that lasting economic transformation requires an ecosystem where technology development, manufacturing, innovation, investment, supportive policies and skilled manpower reinforce one another. He explained that this philosophy underpins NASENI’s transformation agenda, which is anchored on its 3Cs strategy (creation, collaboration, and commercialisation).
According to him, the agency is focused on developing indigenous technologies that solve local challenges, fostering strategic partnerships to accelerate technology transfer and capacity-building, and commercialising research outcomes to ensure innovation translates into marketable products that improve livelihoods.
As part of this vision, Halilu highlighted several flagship initiatives designed to strengthen Nigeria’s clean energy value chain. Among them is the 40-hectare Solar Industrial Park in Gora, Nasarawa State, which is expected to serve as a major manufacturing hub for solar panels, batteries and other renewable energy components, significantly reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported technologies.
He also cited NASENI’s partnership with the Rural Electrification Agency under the Federal Government’s Nigeria First Policy, which prioritises the deployment of locally manufactured renewable energy technologies in electrification projects across the country.
Other interventions include the production of solar-powered irrigation systems to improve agricultural productivity, clean cookstoves aimed at reducing dependence on firewood and protecting the environment, as well as decentralised renewable energy solutions for schools, healthcare facilities and underserved rural communities.
Rather than viewing these programmes as isolated projects, Halilu said they form part of a broader strategy to build local manufacturing capacity, stimulate innovation, create quality jobs, and expand access to affordable clean energy.
Addressing participants at the fellowship, he challenged young Nigerians to become systems thinkers capable of connecting technology with policy and innovation with investment and ideas with practical implementation.
“Nigeria has the resources, the talent, and the market to become Africa’s clean energy manufacturing hub. What we need are leaders who are prepared to build institutions, strengthen value chains, and embrace collaboration,” he said.
Reaffirming NASENI’s commitment to the Federal Government’s industrialisation agenda, Halilu said the agency’s mission extends beyond improving energy access to ensuring that the technologies driving Africa’s clean energy future are increasingly designed, manufactured and commercialised in Nigeria.
He concluded by challenging stakeholders to determine Nigeria’s place in the global clean energy economy. “When Africa’s clean energy future is fully realised, will Nigeria simply be a consumer of those technologies, or will we be among those who build them?” he asked.
According to him, NASENI has already made its choice. “We are building the ecosystem that will make Nigeria a leader in clean energy manufacturing and innovation while unlocking infinite possibilities for generations to come,” he said.
END
