Menu

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the federal government agency mandated to carry out capital goods research, production, and reverse engineering, has announced a new policy to aid the commercialisation of its technologies and innovation products.

In a statement by the agency under the Presidency, the new policy seeks internal use and validation of products made by member institutes of NASENI as a means of accelerating external commercialisation of the products.

The 11 development institutes of the agency are the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Development Institute (AMTDI), Jalingo, Taraba State;  Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI), Lafiya, Nasarawa State; Electronics Development Institute (ELDI), Awka, Anambra State; Engineering Materials Development Institute (EMDI), Akure, Ondo State; Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute (HEDI), Kano, Kano State; and National Engineering Design Development Institute (NEDDI), Nnewi, Anambra State. The others are the Prototype Engineering Development Institute (PEDI), Ilesha, Osun State; Power Equipment and Electrical Machinery Development Institute (PEEMADI), Okene, Kogi State; Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI-E), Enugu, Enugu State; Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI-M), Minna, Niger State; and Solid Minerals Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (SOMMEDI), Nasarawa, Nasarawa State.

According to information on its website, the mission of NASENI is “To develop and maintain a dynamic science and engineering infrastructure to drive indigenous industrialisation, job creation, and national progress.”

NASENI said the new policy, which was recently approved by its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Khalil Halilu, highlights the importance of internal endorsement and usage of the agency’s products to build market credibility and strengthen internal collaboration. According to the statement, this is coming as a critical step toward increasing the adoption and success of NASENI’s innovations in external markets.

An internal memo of the agency sent to all heads of NASENI Development Institutes across the country, dated 31 January 2024, said the new policy calls for inter-institute patronage to support its commercialisation strategy.

“The directive is requesting the 11 Development Institutes of NASENI with other emerging ones to patronise one another’s technologies, machines, equipment and innovations first as permitted by the procurement laws, before such products are released to external markets,” according to the circular.

The new policy, which encourages active promotion, integration, and utilisation of products developed within the NASENI ecosystem, aims to not only boost the internal confidence of the agency’s products but also help to refine them through real-world applications before being introduced to external markets.

Information accessed on the agency’s website today shows NASENI has created 233 products and 785 successful projects. The agency’s products include computer laptop, electric tricycle (Keke), Android smartphone, and solar irrigation pump. NASENI engages in business development, light manufacturing, mass manufacturing, prototyping, and research & development.

Amongst other collaborative frameworks, the new policy recommends inter-institute product showcases, promotion of cross-institute training programmes, internal endorsement and partnership, and monitoring and evaluation.