The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Halilu, has charged the management staff of the agency to come up with ideas on how it can effectively support the priorities of the Federal Government, particularly on transition from petrol and diesel-powered vehicles to alternative fuels to ensure cleaner environment in the country.
The Director-General gave this charge after receiving briefings from the Managing Directors of the agency’s 10 Development Institutes, situated in Enugu, Minna, Awka, Okene, Nnewi, Kano, Jalingo, Akure, Ilesha and Nasarawa.
He said: “Our Institutes are the engines of NASENI’s innovation and these briefings by each Institute are critical as we work together to craft the future of NASENI, as it relates to delivering on the President’s socio-economic agenda.”
In addition to the Managing Directors, Team Leads of various NASENI projects, as well as the agency’s Research Directors, also made presentations to the EVC on their various projects and efforts.
The briefings commenced last week Monday preparatory to the Dirctor-General’s planned tour of NASENI facilities across the institutes scheduled for October this year
Also on Tuesday, Halilu inaugurated a Committee to look into staff welfare, as part of steps to fulfil his pledge, upon assuming office, to ensure that NASENI becomes “a public sector employer of choice in Nigeria.”
He tasked the Committee, comprising middle-level and junior staff of NASENI, with producing a Human Resources (HR) revamp plan for NASENI, adding that the junior staff are indeed the ones on the frontlines of the agency’s work, bearing the biggest burdens, and therefore deserving of special attention, support and welfare.
Commenting during his visit last Friday to the Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, during which he discussed opportunities for collaboration in advancing research in methanol production, lithium mining, and natural medicine, the NASENI boss said that the ministry and the agency were “keen to jointly commercialize existing research outputs,” adding that “I have no doubt that NASENI has a strong and committed partner, in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.”
Also on Friday, Halilu met with a Maiduguri, Borno State-based young Nigerian innovator, Mustapha Gajibo, who specializes in converting petrol-fired vehicles to use gas and solar energy, stressing that “there’s no limit to what young Nigerians can achieve in science and technology, and at NASENI we want to be a part of these inspiring stories from every corner of the country.”
