Mr. Khalil Halilu, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has urged the agency’s management staff to propose ideas for effectively supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s priorities. This includes initiatives like the large-scale transition from petrol and diesel-powered vehicles to alternative fuels, aimed at reducing the cost of living for Nigerians.
Halilu emphasized the importance of NASENI’s Development Institutes, located in ten different cities across Nigeria, as the engines of the agency’s innovation. He stated that these briefings from the managing directors of the institutes were critical in shaping NASENI’s future in alignment with the president’s socio-economic agenda.
During the briefings, the team leads of various NASENI projects and the agency’s research directors also presented their projects and efforts to the EVC. The briefings began on Monday, September 18, 2023, ahead of Halilu’s planned tour of NASENI facilities across the institutes, scheduled to commence in October.
On Tuesday, September 19, the EVC/CEO established a committee tasked with examining staff welfare. This initiative is part of Halilu’s commitment to ensuring that NASENI becomes a preferred public sector employer in Nigeria. The committee, composed of middle-level and junior staff, will develop a Human Resources (HR) revamp plan for NASENI, with a focus on supporting and enhancing the welfare of junior staff.
Towards the end of the week, Halilu paid a courtesy visit to Chief Uche Nnaji, the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, to explore opportunities for collaboration in advancing research related to methanol production, lithium mining, and natural medicine. Halilu expressed confidence in the strong partnership between NASENI and the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.
On the same day, Halilu met with a young Nigerian innovator, Mustapha Gajibo, based in Maiduguri, Borno State. Gajibo specializes in converting gasoline-fired vehicles to use gas and solar energy. Halilu emphasized NASENI’s commitment to supporting and being a part of inspiring stories of scientific and technological innovation from across Nigeria.
