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Tag: Senate Committee on NASENI

  • NASENI Launches FutureMakers to Instill Innovation & Creativity In Younger Generations

    NASENI Launches FutureMakers to Instill Innovation & Creativity In Younger Generations

    The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has launched FutureMakers, a programme targeted at instilling a culture of innovation and creativity among children 15 years and below.

    In his keynote address at the event held on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at the Agency’s headquarters, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the technological future of Nigeria belongs to the younger generation, noting that FutureMakers by NASENI (www.innovation.naseni.gov.ng/futuremakers) will inspire young minds to develop innovative solutions to societal challenges by fostering a culture of creativity and problem-solving.

    “Today, we take another step toward securing Nigeria’s long-term innovation future. We are here to officially launch FutureMakers by NASENI, another national programme designed to identify, nurture and empower young innovators between the ages of 5 and 16 years”, he said, adding that early exposure creates lifelong innovators and Nigeria is joining that league, through FutureMakers by NASENI.

     “FutureMakers an initiative of NASENI Innovation Hub is part of a long-term national strategy to build technical confidence early, develop problem-solvers and inventors, prepare young people for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), entrepreneurship and leadership, strengthen Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem from the ground up and feed talent into NASENI’s incubation and acceleration programmes.

    “This is our way of securing Nigeria’s innovation stability over the next 30 to 50 years”, he emphasized, urging parents to encourage their children to let creativity lead the way, to teachers, to make innovation a daily experience and to partners and the private sector, to invest, sponsor competitions, fund prototypes and raise a new generation of problem-solvers.

    Earlier, Special Adviser to the EVC/CEO on Commercialization and Efficiency, Engr. Dr. Anas Balarabe Yazid, said FutureMakers is not just about design thinking, robotics, coding, engineering, or competitions.

    It is about something deeper: believing in our children before the world has fully seen them, investing in their talent before their CV exists, and creating an experience that will stay with them for life. – The moment they realized they can build things, solve real problems and be a maker of the future.”

    Also in her presentation, Head, NASENI Innovation Hub, Mrs. Rachael Oluwabusola Perez-Folayan stated that the programme, which holds from December 2025 to February 2026, would have a total number of 60 children selected from the six geo-political zones, with prizes worth up to N5million to top winners from each geopolitical zone, including an exclusive study tour abroad with the EVC of NASENI and a scholarship.

    In a goodwill message, the Chairman, Senate Committee on NASENI, Senator Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi commended the Agency for the initiative and thanked the mentors, teachers, parents and partners supporting the vision for standing behind the young talents. “As we launch FutureMakers, let us renew our collective commitment to building a nation, where creativity is elevated, where ideas are supported and where the potential of every child is allowed to thrive. I believe that what we are doing today will inspire a new generation of young ones.” The event was graced by students from Aflon Digital Academy, Kuje and Government Secondary School, Idu-Karmo Abuja respectively.

  • NASENI-PICTT Grants N229m to DELT-Her 2.0 Initiative Awardees

    NASENI-PICTT Grants N229m to DELT-Her 2.0 Initiative Awardees

    The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in partnership with the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT) has granted the sum of N229 million to 14 awardees of the Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her (DELT-Her 2.0) initiative.

    Speaking at the awards ceremony held at the Agency’s headquarters today, Thursday, 6th November 2025, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of NASENI, Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu, stated that DELT-Her represents an opportunity platform through which women can turn bold engineering ideas into solutions that change the world.

    The NASENI boss stated that out of the 9,925 project proposals, 14 women engineers emerged as awardees, receiving N229 million in grant funding to advance their innovative projects across critical sectors, including agriculture, clean energy, health, mobility, digital security, and environmental sustainability.

    He said NASENI believes that gender inclusion is not charity, but a strategy, as every woman empowered through DELT-Her represents a new capacity for the nation’s technology and manufacturing ecosystem, bringing a unique perspective that drives better designs, smarter products, and more human-centred innovation.

    According to him, “the first edition of DELT-Her in 2024 ignited a movement by empowering six outstanding female engineers with N70.5 million in grant support to develop pioneering innovations. This year, DELT-Her 2.0 attracted 9,925 project proposals, compared to just 120 applications in the previous year.”

    Halilu added that “from mentoring 30 school girls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2024, the programme scaled in 2025 to reach over 150 girls across Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Nasarawa and the FCT, providing mentorship, bootcamps and fabrication kits that have inspired them to develop their own prototypes.”

    In his opening address, Chairman of PICTT, Dr. Mohammed Dahiru commended the awardees, noting that their dedication, ingenuity and resilience exemplify the potential of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). “As we honour these milestones, let us recommit to sustaining this momentum, ensuring that DELT-Her continues to bridge gaps and drive national development,” he remarked.

    The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, represented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on NASENI, Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, reaffirmed the commitment of the Senate to the ideals represented by NASENI including indigenous production, local content development and gender inclusion in science and technology. “We believe that a nation that builds its technology builds its destiny and a nation that empowers its women secures its future,” he added.

    In her remarks, the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Udoka, commended NASENI and PICTT for their foresight and dedication. She noted that their initiatives align meaningfully with the Federal Government’s broader commitment to promoting technological independence, industrial growth, gender inclusion and national competitiveness.

    Goodwill messages came from the Postmaster-General and CEO, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Engr. (Ms) Tola Odeyemi; Executive Director, Business Devt, Nigerian Export-Import Bank, Hon. Stella Okotete; Special Assistant on ICT to the President, Fawaz Amodu; representatives of President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Minister of State for FCT; DG of PenCom; Secretary Government of the Federation and DG of NIMC.

  • NASENI, PICTT Restate Commitment to Promote Female Engineers with Launch of DELT-Her 2.0

    NASENI, PICTT Restate Commitment to Promote Female Engineers with Launch of DELT-Her 2.0

    The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT) said the Federal Government is committed to promoting female engineers by supporting women-led innovation.

    Speaking at the Agency’s headquarters on Monday, May 19, 2025, during the launch of the second phase of the Developing Engineering Leaders Through Her (DELT-Her) proposal portal, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu  emphasized the goal of doubling the number of female engineers in Nigeria within five years.

    He described DELT-Her as a movement encouraging women to lead, with NASENI offering support through funding, mentorship, and exposure to global platforms. “DELT-Her is fueling a wave of women-led solutions to Nigeria’s toughest challenges,” he said.

    Citing past success stories such as AI-driven soil monitoring, drone-based security systems, and eco-friendly brake pads, he said over N70.5 million was awarded to six female engineers in the first phase in 2024 with more support planned in the second, adding that NASENI is partnering PICTT and the Czech Republic’s Technology Agency to foster a thriving innovation ecosystem for women.

    Chairman of PICTT, Dr. Mohammed Dahiru, in his welcome remarks, described DELT-Her as a flagship project aimed at empowering women, breaking gender barriers, and reshaping Nigeria’s technological future. He highlighted the urgent need to raise the participation of women in engineering, where they currently make up just five per cent in Nigeria and 28 per cent globally.

    According to Dr. Dahiru, the initiative will not only fund successful applicants but also provide mentorship from industry leaders to help transform ideas into viable startups. He acknowledged the support from the Nigerian Society of Engineers and praised the success stories from the first cohort of DELT-Her recipients.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on NASENI, Sen. Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi, in his goodwill message pledged the Senate’s continued support for women engineers and scientists.

    Minister of Women’s Affairs, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Maryam Chira Keshinro, said the initiative is a strategic step towards inclusive innovation and national development, adding that it addresses structural inequalities while improving access to capital and mentorship for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

    Also, speaking President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntola, represented by Engr. Mistura Adenike Rafiu pledged ongoing support for NASENI and PICTT’s efforts in promoting STEM education.

    Other speakers including Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizens and Leadership, Mrs. Rinsola Abiola; and the Pioneer Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, FCTA, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins- Laniyi commended the DELT-Her initiative and called on female engineers to continue striving for equality in the engineering profession.

    The DELT-Her portal opened for applications today on www.delther.pictt.gov.ng and will close on July 31st 2025. DELT-Her creates new pathways for Nigerian women in engineering to build, lead, and scale tech solutions with practical, real-world relevance.

  • Tinubu Directs MDAs to Patronise NASENI Technologies and Products

    Tinubu Directs MDAs to Patronise NASENI Technologies and Products

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the country to patronise technologies and products of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to support Made-in-Nigeria goods and reduce importation.

    The President, represented by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, made the declaration while commissioning NASENI-Portland Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion, Filling, Reverse Engineering and Training Centre in Utako, Abuja on Friday, May 31, 2024.

    President Bola Tinubu who doubles as Chairman, the NASENI Governing Board, said he is aware that the Agency is in collaboration with private sector players in the commercialisation of its products, noting that the Presidential CNG Initiative (PCNGi), which NASENI has keyed into is the way to tap into Nigeria’s abundant gas resources and to also attain cleaner energy.

    Furthermore, he said the use of CNG-powered transportation would reduce pressure on foreign exchange, save money for vehicle owners by converting fuel-emitting vehicles to CNG. He equally lauded the Agency for working with private sector collaborators in the effort to establish lithium ore processing plant in the country to produce lithium battery for electric vehicles.  

    Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said the NASENI-Portland CNG Conversion and Training Centre, a partnership between NASENI and Portland Gas Limited, is a state-of-the-art facility for the conversion of fossil fuel vehicles to CNG, a cleaner and more cost-effective alternative.

    He said this facility can convert 15 cars every two hours, translating into an output of 2,700 conversions every month.  “Mr. President, by our calculations, if Nigeria is able to have 10 of this kind of facility in each of the 36 States and the FCT, we will be able to convert every vehicle in the country to CNG within one year”, he said.

    He urged the President to give NASENI approval to convert all the vehicles in the State House fleet to CNG. “We are asking for your approval to do this, and showcase our capabilities. Second, we are offering to carry out CNG conversions for every Ministry, Department and Agency of the Federal Government at a cost.

    Equally, to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Halilu said NASENI is willing to make available to its contractors NASENI’S CNG generators, for the purpose of test-running the lighting project on Bill Clinton Drive (the highway leading to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport) to encourage them to purchase the Agency’s streetlights for the project.

    Good will messages poured in from the Minister of Petroleum (Gas), Epkerikpo Ekpo; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi; Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji; Chairman, Senate Committee on NASENI, Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi; and Chairman, House Committee on NASENI, Hon. Taofik Ajilesoro.

     The NASENI-Portland CNG Conversion and Training Centre, equipped with the latest technology and staffed with trained professionals to ensure efficient and safe conversions, aims to build local capacity and domesticate CNG technology.

     It offers comprehensive training programmes for technicians, engineers, and other stakeholders, fostering domestication of expertise in CNG systems and promoting the adoption of green energy solutions across the nation.

     The NASENI initiative is expected to significantly reduce vehicular emissions, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment. Additionally, the adoption of CNG will offer economic benefits by reducing fuel costs for consumers and creating new job opportunities and technical expertise in Nigeria’s green energy sector.

  • Senate Commends NASENI On Accelerated Technology Transfer

    Senate Commends NASENI On Accelerated Technology Transfer

    Today, the Senate Committee on National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has commended the Agency for championing local content development of Solar-Powered smart irrigation, tricycles, electric motorbikes and others with accelerated technology transfer.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on NASENI, Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi who led other members of the Committee on an oversight function visit to NASENI Headquarters, Abuja expressed satisfaction, while being conducted by the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu round some of the NASENI products and facilities.

    Other products inspected include animal feed processing machines and NASENI transformers, electric motorcycles and tricycles as well as the NASENI home and irrigation solar systems.

    According to Senator Onyewuchi, “The committee is quite pleased with the level of progress and we want to assure NASENI of the support of the National Assembly to make sure that agency drives effectively the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in this area and I want to also thank them for making Nigeria go green, moving from fuel to non-fossil products, it is quite commendable. We are quite pleased and we want to encourage them to do more.”

    According to the committee members who spoke separately, with the NASENI home solar and the electric bikes, local businesses will be enhanced, the economy of the country will improve, adding that urban and rural areas power challenges would be overcome if NASENI solar system is mass produced.

    The EVC/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu said some NASENI products would be ready in the second quarter of this year, adding that the Agency is establishing a Technology Transfer Hub within its headquarters to bring eco-friendly technologies closer to people and to make it affordable both on short and long term basis.

     “We promised Nigerians that by the first quarter of this year, they are going to be seeing NASENI products and today, you have witnessed three products- solar irrigation system, which is like a generator, but completely solar and batteries and the second one is our electronic motorcycle and tricycle (Keke) and the last one being the solar home system where you can power your entire house off-grid,” Halilu said.  

    “You will soon start seeing NASENI branded products in our efforts to build a national brand for the country and of course, if you are doing commercial viable products, they have to be affordable to the common man and very soon, you will start seeing them in the market,” he added.

    Other lawmakers who made the trip include Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Senator Aminu Iya Abbas; Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on NASENI, Sen. Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo; Member, Senate Committee on NASENI, Sen. David  Jimkura; Member, Senate Committee on NASENI, Sen. Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli; and Sen. Abdullaziz Musa Yar’Adua.