….advocates use of Made-in-Nigeria products
By Cyril Ogar
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole has commended the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) industrial drive under the leadership of Khalil Suleiman Halilu, described the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) as a model for Nigeria’s industrial and technological future, following an extensive tour of its facilities in the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister made the commendation, during a ministerial tour of NASENI facilities, including the NASENI Innovation Hub, NASENI technology site at the Abuja Technology Village, Torment Biotechnology Laboratory, and NASENI Hatch innovation hub, and another facility at Abuja Technology Park, Idu Industrial Area respectively
Dr. Oduwole said she witnessed 100 percent manufacturing of made in Nigeria and a rare combination of research, knowledge sharing, and commercialization.
According to her, “I have seen actual products, market-ready innovations, global patents, and happy investors being delivered with speed and structure. This is a template for productivity across Nigeria, and a prototype for how government partnerships with domestic investors can transform the economy.”
The minister tied NASENI’s work to President Bola Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” industrial policy, which prioritizes local production, job creation, and non-oil exports.
She stressed that state governments, ministries, and agencies must also commit to buying locally produced goods, noting that the Bureau of Public Procurement already has provisions to support Nigerian manufacturers like NASENI.
“We are an intentional government,” she said. “Local content is not optional—it is a responsibility. What I have seen here aligns perfectly with our trade, investment, and industrialization goals.”
Dr. Oduwole also pointed to broader economic reforms, including stabilization of the foreign exchange market, new tax architecture, and trade negotiations to protect investors. She assured NASENI and its partners that the ministry would help remove bottlenecks, facilitate market access, and promote their products globally.
Welcoming the minister, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, recalled their first working encounter during a trade trip to China, shortly after his appointment. That engagement, he said, led to multiple letters of intent from potential investors, many of which have now translated into real manufacturing ventures.
“Back in September, we had only prototypes, Today, we have over 40 products that are market-ready. The facilities you have seen are just a fraction of our network; we have 18 others nationwide and plans to build 100 more.”
He harped on the ISO-certified quality of NASENI’s manufacturing plants, including one with the capacity to meet 80 percent of Nigeria’s domestic demand for certain products and still export to other African countries.
A central part of NASENI’s strategy, Halilu explained, is “domestication”—producing goods that meet both global quality standards and local market needs. “Nigerians are increasingly proud to buy Nigerian,” he said, citing parallels with the rise of Nollywood, Afrobeats, and indigenous fashion. “Our innovation hubs refine ideas to ensure they are competitive in both price and quality.”
The tour showcased NASENI’s broad portfolio: renewable energy solutions, precision agricultural machinery, diagnostic kits, locally assembled laptops, and biotechnology innovations.
At the Torment Biotechnology Laboratory, the minister observed a production line capable of manufacturing 2,000 diagnostic kits per hour, with plans for continental exports under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
At the Hatch Box innovation hub, she interacted with young engineers turning concepts into prototypes, and prototypes into mass-market products.
“NASENI is not neglecting either side of its mandate research or commercialization, from students to professors, there’s a culture of knowledge-sharing alongside tangible economic output.”
For Halilu, the visit was not just a showcase, but a call to deepen collaboration. “We are open to advice and partnerships. This is just part one of the minister’s visits; we have more facilities here in Abuja and across Nigeria that are ready to be seen.”
He concluded by appealing to the media to embrace developmental journalism saying that NASENI currently has over 40 market-ready products capable of competing favourably in the global market, with more innovations underway.
