President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, May 31, 2024, in Abuja, expressed satisfaction with the collaborative approach of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) under Khalil Halilu in advancing his administration’s industrialisation reform agenda in the country.
President Tinubu, represented by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio made this known during the unveiling of the NASENI-Portland Reverse Engineering Centre in Utako, the transportation hub of the FCT.
He emphasised that appointing Khalil Halilu early in his tenure marked the initial stride towards realizing his ambitious vision for Nigeria’s industrial development.
“As I assumed the presidency a year ago, I emphasized our administration’s mission to ‘encourage domestic manufacturing and reduce import dependency,’ fully cognisant of our nation’s vast potential to emerge as a regional and global industrial and manufacturing powerhouse,” remarked the President.
Serving as the chairman of NASENI’s governing board, President Bola Tinubu underscored the agency’s pivotal role in actualising his administration’s revitalised agenda, aimed at propelling the scientific, engineering and industrial endeavours of the Nigerian government.
“For me, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) plays a critical role in the realisation of Nigeria’s industrialisation vision. That’s why we promptly assembled a new management team for the agency last year. I appointed Khalil Halilu—the young man with the beard, as I fondly refer to him—as the executive vice chairman and chief executive officer to lead our reform agenda for the agency. I am pleased with the progress thus far,” stated the President.
President Tinubu also noted that under Halilu’s stewardship, NASENI, as the premier national entity, is transitioning from a research-oriented organisation to providing commercially viable products.
“I am apprised that under Halilu’s guidance, NASENI has prioritised shifting from research and prototyping to delivering products that meet consumer needs in households, offices, industries and farms.
“I firmly believe that getting NASENI right is synonymous with getting Nigeria’s industrialisation right. As the Federal Government agency tasked with spearheading Nigeria’s scientific, engineering, and industrial endeavors, NASENI is imperative,” said the President.
In a statement issued by the agency’s information director, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan President Tinubu affirmed his commitment to guiding NASENI’s strategic launchpad initiatives and ensuring the government’s transformation of the agency into a beacon of public sector excellence and public-private partnership.
