The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Halilu, has stressed that investing in human capital development and staff motivation remain the best ways of repositioning the agency into a power-house of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in the global space.
The agency’s boss made this remark in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of a 5-Day training for Information, New Media and Protocol staff of the agency, drawn from the headquarters and Institutes on ‘New Media and Protocol Strategies for a Modern Government Agency in the 21st century’, held on Monday in Abuja.
Halilu said: “We are building a new NASENI where one of the overarching goals is to have well trained employees with knowledge and requisite technical, vocational and management skills required for the Agency’s growth and technology advancement.”
He said this reorientation would equip us to bring to fruition the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration and also the Eight Priority Areas of the administration.
On the mandate of the agency, he pointed out that the agency’s mission was to drive Nigeria’s rapid industrialization through the new three Cs of Collaboration, Creation and Commercialization.
The technology expert recalled that over the past four months since he took over the leadership of NASENI, the agency had embarked on new partnerships and collaborations aimed at turning its over 150 scientific and technological prototypes, products and intellectual properties rights (IPR) into finished products.
He further clarified: “We have signed multi billion dollars new Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) and revived old ones with international technical partners to establish coal-based fertilizer plant, Lithium processing and Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Agric afforestation, smart solar irrigation, tractor repairs and crop traceability for food security,” he further explained.
He said that the 5-Day intensive training programme will enable information and Protocol staff of the Agency to catch-up with the current trends and international standards required for Mastering the Intricacies of New Media and Protocol Strategies that would take the Agency to greater heights.
“We have assembled about forty-one (41) staff responsible for information and protocol activities from our headquarters and Institutes to benefit from this training. This training will up-skill the crop of staff to communicate our new strategy and partnerships to different publics”, he stated.
He said that he was confident that by the end of the training, the staff of Information, Protocol and New Media Unit would be equipped with requisite skills to be at par with contemporaries in the public and private sectors as well as those in international sphere.
The Coordinating Director, Engineering Infrastructure, Prof. Bagudu Dansheu Gwadangaji who was ably represented by Engr. Dr. Olayode Olasupo urged the Information Staff to adapt to new media and protocol strategies to ensure the continued success and relevance of NASENI.
Encouraging the participants, he said: “Your presence at this training signifies not only personal and professional growth but also a collective effort to enhance our capabilities as a forward-thinking government agency.
“I encourage you to actively engage in the sessions, collaborate with your peers, and absorb the wealth of knowledge that this training has to offer. The insights gained here will understandably contribute to your skills, allowing you to make valuable contributions to our ICT initiatives” Olasupo added.
Also, the Coordinating Director, Science Infrastructure, Prof Umar Gaya stated that the theme of the training was timely as it will equip participants with necessary skills and tools to combat fake news which can affect organizations negatively.
He said: “When you talk about NASENI, so many things come to mind. As an Agency with first line charge from the Federation Account, there is likely to be fake news out there about us. Therefore, this training will help equip the participants to separate information from misinformation and misrepresentation. We hope your deliberations will help the EVC/CEO and Management to achieve the Agency’s mandate.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of Information, Protocol and New Media Unit, Mr. Segun Ayeoyenikan commended the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Halilu for making staff motivation, development and productivity top priorities in his agenda since he assumed the position as EVC/CEO barely four Months ago.
He said in an era defined by rapid advancement, the training was a crucial step towards navigating the complexities of digital age, adding that the new slogan in the media profession and business world is
The CEO said: “You either communicate or you are easily forgotten, because of the complexities or sophistication of the society wherein we live today.”
Elaborating further on the importance of the capacity building event, he said the training for the Communication and Media arm of the agency, the first of its kind in 33 years, was indeed timely with the wave of reforms currently sweeping across the agency with the coming on board of a Techpreneur, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu.
He said: “The Information, New Media and Protocol Department play a critical role of projecting the image, products, mission and vision of the agenc yamongst its technology end-users and critical stakeholders.”
