Nigerian Varsities Showcase NASENI-funded R&D Products

Researchers from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso, Oyo State and Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State, have showcased their research and development (R&D) products funded by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).

This development was contained in a statement signed by the deputy director of information at NASENI, Mr Chima Akwaja, on Monday.

The presentation, which took place at the Technology Orientation Centre (TOC), NASENI headquarters, Abuja recently, was witnessed by the agency’s top management led by the research directors, which marked the culmination of a collaborative effort that began in April 2023 when NASENI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three professors from the universities.

Professor Abass Alade, Department of Chemical Engineering, LAUTECH, research focused on “Treatment of Aquaculture Waste Water Using Waste Banana and Plantain Stem Juice Composite Through Integrated Filtracoagulation Cascade System”; Associate Professor Jimoh Oladejo Tijani, Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State on “Development of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes-Iron Tungstate Composite for Industrial Wastewater Purification” while Dr Sanusi Kolawole, Department of Pure and Applied Physics, LAUTECH, focused on “Development of Nano-coating Green Urea Fertiliser for Agricultural Production Enhancement”, respectively.

The executive vice chairman/chief executive of NASENI, Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu, represented by research director Dr Samuel O. Olusunle, in his welcome address, appreciated the professors for making judicious use of the funds for the publication of their research works and development of the products.

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Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Professor Abbas Alade expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying: “We are happy to have this great chance to show who we are and what we have done, and we deeply appreciate every input from NASENI, which has added to our body of knowledge and expanded our capacity.”
He also talked about key achievements of the projects, such as agency-academia linkage as feasible and sustainable, facility development in the acquisition of equipment and resources, and human resource development of undergraduates and postgraduates who participated in the research works.

He called for funding from NASENI to mass produce the products further and commercialise them through the tripartite relationship between NASENI, academia, and private sector operators.

NASENI research director Dr Patrick Okwu thanked the researchers for their partnership and encouraged them to include production costs in their next presentations to make the information more accessible to the general public.

On his part, another research director, Engr. Prof. Abdulmalik Onuwe expressed enthusiasm for the NASENI-university collaboration and emphasised the importance of expanding the research deliverables to benefit the manufacturing sector.

In his vote of thanks, deputy director and head of the Research Laboratory Development Department, Science Infrastructure Directorate, NASENI, Dr Bakare Hassan Oladipo, expressed gratitude to the EVC/CEO for the collaboration, saying, “This showcase underscores NASENI’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration between Nigeria’s top academic institutions and the agency’s research and development efforts.”