NASENI to lift 2.5 million Nigerians out of poverty in 5 years – CEO

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) says it is projecting to lift 2.5 million Nigerians out of poverty within five years through technology transfer and its various programmes.

Its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Khalil Halilu, made this known at a media parley on Wednesday in Abuja.

Halilu stated that the anticipated outcome of technology transfer to Nigeria’s economy includes reducing the import bill by 25 percent to 37.4 billion dollars by 2030 through partnerships that would encourage the local manufacturing of the top 10 highly demanded items.

He said that the organisation projects the generation of more than three million jobs by 2030 through focused technology knowledge transfer to 300,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“We hope to increase imports to N53.6 trillion by 2030 through value addition and strategic partnerships with foreign markets,” he said.

He said that NASENI would transform Nigeria’s economy by facilitating access to technology and international markets for transactions.

He said that the organisation had been building the capacity of SMEs by partnering with them to produce 35 of its market products, which was achieved within his six months in office.

He listed the products to include electric tricycles, laptops, phones, lithium batteries, solar home systems, and solar irrigation equipment, saying that three of the products have already been launched.

According to NASENI’s boss, the achievement of producing the products within the short period was made possible through its initiative of deploying the existing structures and technologies of local SMEs as partners to accelerate the outcomes and address local needs.

He said that NASENI is partnering with the Rural Electrification Agency to deploy its renewable energy technologies, particularly solar resources, in rural communities aimed at illuminating the areas.

“This strategic collaboration aims to enhance electricity visibility and supply in remote regions, contributing to the country’s sustainable development,” he said.

He said that Nigeria could leverage its power challenges to develop solar energy technology as an alternative source of power and also develop the minerals required for renewable energy transition, such as lithium, which the country possesses.

He said that the organisation had signed an agreement with a Chinese firm to build a lithium-iron plant worth 150 million dollars as part of Nigeria’s efforts to meet the global upsurge in energy transition.

Supreme News reports that NASENI is also working with local partners and has deployed no fewer than 5000 solar home systems in Nasarawa State with the aim of scaling up the intervention to other parts of the country.

According to Halilu, the organisation, under its National Tractor and Vehicle Recovery programme, is reviving 55,000 broken down tractors which would also include converting them into cleaner energy of Compressed and Liquefied Natural Gas.

He said that they were also working to revive armoured personnel carriers and abandoned weapons, which was necessary to ensure they do not end in the wrong hands.

The CEO said that the organisation had launched a special fund scheme called Developing Engineering Leaders through Her (DELT-HER), to encourage women inclusion in the engineering sector.

He expressed concern that Nigeria had only five per cent women inclusion while the global average statistics is about 28 per cent.

Supreme News reports that NASENI is the only government agency with statutory responsibility to intervene in all aspects of engineering, science and infrastructure.