In a renewed focus, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is determined to industrialize Nigeria through the implementation of its mandates. In a retreat held recently for Technical Board of Directors and Managing Directors of NASENI Development Institutes, with the theme “NASENI: The Vehicle for Nigeria’s Industrialisation” the Secretary to the government of the Federation Mr. Boss Mustapha, represented by the Permanent Secretary Cabinet Affairs Office Mr. James Sule gave the keynote address and declared the retreat opened.
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Engr. Prof M.S. Haruna did an overview of the agency and the journey so far and he and his management team were commended for their vision and tireless efforts in repositioning NASENI to its current status.
The retreat which brought together stakeholders under one environment to brainstorm and chart a new direction for the new NASENI resolved that Nigerians have high expectation of NASENI for the much needed industrialisation of the country and expressed hope that NASENI would be repositioned for improved service delivery.
It also resolved among others that members of the Technical Board of Directors (MTBs) should use their wealth of experience, technical know-how and exposure to guide the Research and Development (R&D) directions of the Institutes in line with the mandates of NASENI and mono mandate of the Development Institutes, towards Nigeria’s transition to a manufacturing economy.
NASENI is to prioritize need-oriented products such as electric vehicles, microchips, solar cells etc. towards enhancing its visibility and participation in the global market and to collaborate in the areas of innovation, production and technology transfer to SME’s through Private Public Partnership (PPP).
The agency resolved to create baseline indices for the Development Institutes to set targets and measure performance and that synergy between NASENI, Universities, Polytechnics, Research Institutions and the industries should be enhanced
Each institute is to identify at least one need oriented product for full development and commercialization within a maximum time frame of 24 months for immediate production and commercialization and establish Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for all its processes in line with good corporate governance and business codes of ethics.
NASENI is to develop and automate a dispassionate risk assessment processes to enhance internal control mechanism to prevent corruption and also determine appropriate compensation mechanisms for all staff and engender a high moral and discipline in staff of all categories.
Participants were full of appreciation to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, for approving the full implementation of all statutory provisions of the establishment ACT of NASENI thereby breaking the over 32 years of the agency redundancy.
The honorable minister of the FCT, Mal. Muhammed Musa Bello represented by Engr. Ferdinand Ezeoha, director Engineering services gave a good will message. Several papers were presented by resource persons including the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission Abdulrasheed Bawa represented by Mr Osita Nwaja, Director Public Affairs.
The retreat was to enable the participants interact, familiarize, learn and share knowledge with the view to charting a direction for the new NASENI
