The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) says it is committed to forging a partnership with the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB) to utilize indigenous engineering in the fabrication of equipment to enhance Nigeria’s security.
The executive vice chairman of NASENI, Prof. Maiwalima Haruna, stated this when he received the DRDB director-general, Air Vice Marshal Peter Uzezi, who led top members of the Nigerian Defence on a courtesy call on him at the NASENI headquarters today (June 22).
He pointed out that though NASENI has been working with various armed forces in the country, it was ready to work with the bureau for a mutual execution of the duo’s mandate.
“You are helping us to implement our mandate so we have no other option but to work with you. We are already working with the Nigeria Air Force,” he said.
According to Haruna, the agency which is very passionate about supporting the progress of any research and development institution, is ready to avail the bureau of its array of experts in various research and engineering fields such as laser, 3D, reverse engineering and solar, amongst others.
Congratulating Uzezi who was newly appointed DG of DRDB, he promised to look into areas of possible collaborations with the bureau.
Earlier, Uzezi said the delegation was at the agency to seek collaborations with a view to tap into their wide array of expertise.
“It is on record that NASENI has the reach that many institutions do not have and so we want to tap into your manpower so we can produce that equipment that our armed forces need for the defence of the country. We are looking at collaborative areas in the conduct of reverse engineering, laser, electronics, thermal engineering, artificial intelligence, fabrication of components. We also need to tap into your expertise in the area of solar energy. The reason we are saying all these is because we need to have capabilities, research experts that are experienced in such areas which you are already doing to help drive our research efforts in the military complex,” he added.
He restated the need for collaboration among key stakeholders for the progress of research and development that would lead to national security and economic development, saying such would help the bureau to achieve its mandate which is hinged on research and development.
“The mandate of the DRDB is to provide strategic direction for actualization of military industrial reliance and by extension the attainment of self-reliance in state of the art, weapons and allied equipment of the defence and security services of Nigeria.
“In actualizing this mandate my vision is to locally develop and deliver cutting edge technologies to the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for enhanced national security. And for me to achieve this there is need for collaboration between innovators, academia and industries to attain self-reliance in defence equipment and production. This can be achieved through collaborative partnerships between key partners and allies,” he added.
