From Policy To Action: Two-Year Milestone Of NASENI Under The EVC/CEO, Khalil Halilu

When Khalil Suleiman Halilu, was appointed as the Executive Vice Chairman (ECV/CEO) of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in September 2023, he immediately set out with a vision and ideas to drive practical results.

Within a space of two years, Halilu had led the unprecedented transformation of the Agency from policy to action and NASENI is now leading in providing Nigeria with innovative breakthroughs in product manufacturing and machine fabrication which has strengthened national capacities in various sectors.

From 44 products launched to 50 projects embarked upon and various initiatives, NASENI in the last two years under Halilu, has demonstrated resilience in pushing massive investments in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). Initiatives such as DELT-Her, She-Fly (Female drone project,) innovate Naija, NASENI Research Commercialization Grant Programme, Tractor Rehabilitation Project, Irrigate Nigeria Project and many others have made profound impacts on Nigeria’ s economy leading to Nigeria’s increased drive for global competitiveness.

President Bola Tinubu was moved to recognize the immense contributions of the Agency under Halilu to the nation during his 2nd year anniversary in office on 29th May, 2025. President Tinubu praised the Agency’s numerous achievements of high impact projects and programmes that are steering Nigeria along the critical path of socio- economic development.

According to the President, NASENI has championed youth empowerment, skill acquisition and job creation initiatives for unemployed Nigerian youths, thus supporting the federal government’s plan to empower the next generation, bridge inequality and place young Nigerians at the heart of national development.

Halilu has made good his promises to use STI to strengthen Nigeria’s socio-economic development under the Renewed Hope Agenda. His market-driven approach has leveraged on technology transfer as well as domestic, home-grown technology development which is the core mandate of NASENI.

Through strategic partnership and investment, Halilu has increased the opportunities for Nigeria to leapfrog in the areas of science, technology, engineering and innovation, even as he promised that NASENI during his tenure would play effectively those central roles through the technology transfer revolution that is coming.

A number of projects and programmes and policy initiatives have been identified as NASENI’s vision of transformation. One of the most prominent was the partnership with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to deploy NASENI’s solar resources and other renewable technologies to light up rural areas in Nigeria.

NASENI under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) signed pacts with three Chinese companies to attract $2 billion investments for new projects on the sidelines of the BRI in Beijing, China on October 19 2023 as well as receiving letters of intent for $4bn new investments covering energy (solar, natural gas, microgrids), vehicle production, training and technology transfer, drone technology, and the development of a new industrial park.

NASENI also signed agreements with eleven firms in Nigeria who are beneficiaries for take-off of the $21.7 million Delta-2 Project. The Delta 2 project launched in 2022 was designed to fund and enable research, development and innovation projects in agriculture, mining, and general manufacturing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It is being implemented by the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT) and NASENI for Nigeria, in partnership with the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TA CR).

During the first quarter 2024, NASENI’s products such as Solar Irrigation Pumps, Electric Vehicles, Solar Tricycle and Electric Keke, laptop and tablet, Electric Motorcycle, Smartphone and Feature phone, Powerstove, Home Solar Solution, LED Street Lamp, TV, Air-Conditioners, etc were already on display in Nigeria market as the Agency commercialized products via technology transfer. The EVC/CEO said his direction is for NASENI’s products and technologies to be available in every household in Nigeria in the next few years.

“We are going to do this through technology transfer. Ever since we made the announcement to go into technology transfer particularly, especially the intention to have our products in the market, we have been receiving a lot of interests from private sector organisations looking out for our capacity, the spread and goodwill which we are endowed with being a government organization and how they can partner with us,” he said.

The Agency has also taken bold steps to raise the number of female engineers in Nigeria over next five years with the launch of Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her (DELT-Her) in collaboration with PICTT. In the last two editions, about N299.5 million has been disburse to 21 female engineers who emerged tops with convincing projects.

Also, the DELT-Her has also expanded its dragnet to 30 secondary schools in the north-central states preaching the message of STI to over 150 female students. The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI has emphasized the goal of doubling the number of female engineers in Nigeria within five years, describing DELT-Her as a movement encouraging women to lead, with NASENI offering support through funding, mentorship, and exposure to global platforms.

Other strategic investments that mark major milestones in NASENI’s on-going efforts to build computer systems and combat global warming and foster a sustainable ecosystem by Nigerian companies dedicated to decarbonization include the acquisition of equity stakes in Imose Technologies Ltd and Powerstove Energy Ltd, enabling the companies to scale its production of laptops and tablets as well as cookstoves from 100,000 units to one million units annually.

NASENI and Imose Technologies Ltd, an indigenous Nigerian company, have rolled out made-in-Nigeria laptops and tablets for use by Nigerians. The 14-inch laptops and 10.5-inch tablets are manufactured under the NASENI brand name. This move aligns with the Agency’s mission to drive indigenous industrialization, local content and to promote job creation in fulfillment of

In the area of defence technology and the need to achieve self-reliance in military hardware production, NASENI on 14th August 2024, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Defence to ensure Nigeria strengthens its defence infrastructure through indigenous innovation and technological advancement through its Military Industrial Complex (MIC) by reviving the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).

Meanwhile, to ensure food security, NASENI embarked on the Irrigate Nigeria Project targeting farmers nationwide with solar irrigation pump machines for all-round farming. The project had its formal launch in Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

Improved irrigation, according to NASENI EVC/CEO, “helps farmers to extend the number of farming rounds made possible in a year for each farming household. And this means a rise in income for farmers as farming activities increased all through the dry season”.

Also, the National Asset Restoration programme, which was inaugurated by Vice President Kashim Shettima in Maiduguri, Borno State on July 8, 2025, with the NASENI Tractor Recovery Project, has boosted mechanized agriculture and enhanced food security in fulfillment of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda by reviving broken-down or non-functional tractors.

The project fully funded, supervised and executed by NASENI aims at contributing meaningfully to the Federal Government’s recovery and development agenda. The construction of Greenhouses for Soilless Farming at the Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI) in Lafia, as well as the ongoing construction of the largest renewal energy park in Gora, both in Nasarawa State are testaments of Nigeria’s industrialization strides.

To strengthen science and technology, NASENI is constructing the Sustainable and Emerging Technologies Institute SETI) at the new campus of Bayero University, Kano. The initiative in a 30 hectares land is part of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to drive industrialization and empower young Nigerians through innovation and technology.

A second NASENI project—a 10-hectare Agri-preneurship Training Hub—will also be established at BUK’s Old Campus. This hub will feature modern greenhouses, facilities for soil-less farming, and tissue culture laboratories to advance agricultural technology in Nigeria.

These Development Institutes and NASENI Skill Acquisition Centres currently under construction in all the geo-political zones of the country have redefined NASENI under Halilu and enthroned it as probably the most innovative government agency deserving of more funding and better motivation for management and staff.