The executive vice chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammed Haruna and the director-general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Maj. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim has agreed to train corps members through their institutions as a base for the cultivation of entrepreneurial skills, to achieve a new industrial economy for Nigeria and guarantee the future of the country.
Haruna said the drive to a new Nigeria industrial economy will be built on human beings and their ingenuities, with NASENI’s searchlight focused on building up the nation’s young people and corps members.
The NASENI boss made this known when he received Ibrahim and his team at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, saying that the NYSC is contributing tremendously to the pool of vibrant and youthful human resources required to build a new economy and kick-start a manufacturing sector which is at the heart of economic growth and development of the country.
“NYSC has a complete orientation of those who have the knowledge and intellectual foundation to keep the country in constant supplies of the human capital, so we can achieve a meaningful industrial revolution in Nigeria,” he said.
The NYSC and NASENI need to collaborate to catch the future young entrepreneurs from there in the scheme. He reiterated that NASENI was willing to collaborate with NYSC to build a hub of future entrepreneurs that would drive the nation’s economy to desired heights, especially in the development of science, technology and innovation.
Responding, Ibrahim said the NYSC has contributed enormously to the nation’s development, saying the service introduced skill acquisition and training of corps members back in 2012 to shape them for the development of Nigeria.
Therefore, collaborating with NASENI was a great impetus to the strides that the scheme had already commenced.
“Potential exists with the youths because they are innovative and we should encourage them. They did a lot during COVID-19 pandemic as corps members, by developing an app for children to be educated on the dangers or prevention of the virus.
“I believe the corps members will benefit so much from NASENI. So, we solicit for partnership with the agency and to work out areas of possible collaboration. We can bring them from other centres to come and learn skills acquisition or technology-based businesses from NASENI. We are ready to work with you,” he assured.
In a similar development, the group managing director of Proforce Intelligence System Limited, Mr. Ade Ogundeyin and his team were in NASENI for a courtesy visit and to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the transfer of knowledge in automotive engineering – engine production, green transportation, production of tyres, steel production, unmanned aerial/ground vehicles or drones (which also include weaponised UAS or UAVs and unmanned ground vehicles). This will also include research work done, journal papers, technical specifications and drawings, production methodologies, inventions, prototypes and models amongst others.
Also, the chairman of MOMAS Electricity Meters, Engr. Kola Balogun and his team paid a courtesy visit to NASENI and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to undertake specific joint projects with legally binding obligations and, in turn, develop specific, written agreements for such projects, setting out each party’s contributions on deliverables and budgets.
The MoU also sought to undertake specific joint projects in the areas of research and development of metering technology solutions, develop more research concepts to reform electricity metering under the power, security and agricultural sectors. Both organisations will collaborate within the areas of research and development training and capacity-building for metering solutions amongst other agreements.
A statement by the agency’s deputy director, information, Mr. Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, said the national chairman of Nigerian Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Prof. Folarin Alonge was a part of the teams which visited the agency headquarters to discuss possible areas of collaboration with NASENI for the development of mechanised agriculture across the country.
He also said that the visit was to follow up on their previous discussions with the NASENI boss on the promotion of science and engineering development in the country.
Responding, the NASENI boss said that the agency was willing to partner with the parties, saying they all were helping the agency to carry out its mandate in Nigeria.
