Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja.
Presidency has commended the remarkable strides being made by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in driving Nigeria’s industrial transformation, following a high-level tour of the agency’s headquarters in Abuja by members of the Presidential Communications Team.
The visit, held on Tuesday, August 4, provided senior government officials with a first-hand look at some of Nigeria’s most ambitious homegrown technological innovations, reinforcing the Federal Government’s commitment to local manufacturing, technology transfer, and economic diversification under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Leading the delegation were the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga; the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare; and the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman. They were received by NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Khalil Suleiman Halilu.
The delegation toured several of the agency’s cutting-edge facilities, where they inspected a wide range of locally assembled technologies, including unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), electric vehicles, agricultural machinery, renewable energy systems, and advanced medical diagnostic equipment.
A major highlight of the visit was the inspection of NASENI’s In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVDs) and Rapid Diagnostic Factory, a strategic healthcare manufacturing facility designed to boost Nigeria’s capacity to produce critical diagnostic kits locally. The initiative is expected to strengthen the nation’s healthcare system, reduce dependence on imported medical products, and improve emergency response during disease outbreaks.
The visitors also witnessed demonstrations of innovative solutions aimed at addressing challenges in agriculture, transportation, energy, and manufacturing, sectors regarded as critical to Nigeria’s economic growth.
Speaking during the tour, NASENI Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, outlined the agency’s rapid transformation into a catalyst for industrial development. He disclosed that NASENI has facilitated the establishment of more than 20 local manufacturing plants across eight industrial sectors, creating jobs, encouraging technology transfer, and expanding indigenous production capacity.
Halilu explained that the agency’s strategy is focused on building an innovation-driven economy by supporting local industries, commercialising research outcomes, and ensuring that Nigerian-made technologies become globally competitive.
The Presidential Communications Team expressed admiration for the scale of innovation and industrial progress witnessed at the agency, describing NASENI as one of the key institutions translating the Renewed Hope Agenda into tangible economic outcomes.
Officials noted that the locally manufactured products demonstrated that Nigeria possesses the technical expertise and human capital required to compete in advanced manufacturing, while reducing import dependence and strengthening national self-reliance.
The visit also underscored the Tinubu administration’s emphasis on promoting local content, expanding domestic production, creating employment opportunities, and positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for science, engineering, and technological innovation.
Industry observers say the growing collaboration between government institutions and local manufacturers is expected to accelerate industrialisation, stimulate private sector investment, and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness within Africa’s emerging manufacturing landscape.
With innovations ranging from clean energy technologies to healthcare solutions and smart mobility, NASENI continues to position itself at the forefront of Nigeria’s industrial renaissance, offering practical solutions capable of transforming key sectors of the economy while showcasing the country’s expanding capacity for homegrown innovation.
END
