Akume hails NASENI innovations, says Nigeria can build rockets

"The Federal Government remains committed to creating an enabling environment for local research, technological advancement and sustainable development." Akume, SGF 

.... Says "some of the innovations presented had the potential to address critical needs in the areas of security, food sovereignty and healthcare.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has lauded the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure for its innovation drive, saying Nigeria has the talent and potential to develop advanced technologies, including rockets capable of supporting space missions.

Akume spoke in Abuja on Tuesday when he received the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the agency’s management team and winners of the NASENI Innovation Assessment and Award Competition.

The SGF said the Federal Government remained committed to creating an enabling environment for local research, technological advancement and sustainable development.

He described the innovation competition, involving civil and public servants as well as Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as a significant step towards developing home-grown solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.

Akume said some of the innovations presented had the potential to address critical needs in the areas of security, food sovereignty and healthcare.

He added that the quality of the ideas demonstrated the abundance of talents among Nigerian youths and their capacity to develop solutions that could compete globally.

“Nigeria has talents. I don’t doubt about that. Wherever you go in the world, Nigerians are recognised as people with a lot of talents and people with a great future,” Akume said.

He also commended NASENI for what he described as a transparent and non-partisan selection process, noting that its credibility would encourage more Nigerians to present their innovative ideas.

The SGF expressed optimism about Nigeria’s technological future, saying the country could eventually develop advanced aerospace capabilities.

“Tomorrow, who knows, Nigeria can manufacture rockets that can send people to the moon. And this can be the courtesy of NASENI,” he said.

He assured the agency of the Federal Government’s continued support and congratulated its management and staff on the progress recorded in innovation and technological development.

Earlier, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu said the award and recognition programme comprised both inter-agency and intra-agency competitions aimed at identifying and celebrating outstanding contributions by civil and public servants.

Halilu disclosed that NASENI’s innovation strategy went beyond developing products, stressing that innovators were also being equipped with skills in accounting, marketing and business development to enable them commercialise their ideas.

According to him, the agency has facilitated the establishment of 20 factories across the country and developed more than 40 products within about two years.

Halilu added that NASENI was also investing in programmes aimed at nurturing young innovators, including the Future Makers Programme for children aged between five and 15.

Two representatives of the six winning teams showcased their innovations during the meeting.

One of the innovations, developed by a team from the National Space Research and Development Agency, was a security jacket equipped with technology for real-time communication with the command-and-control centre of security agencies.

The innovation, according to the team, could improve security coordination and emergency response.

A winning team from NASENI also showcased an electronic commercial platform designed to provide MDAs with a digital marketplace for promoting and marketing their goods and services.