PRESS RELEASE
Engr. Prof M.S.Haruna, Officer of the Order of The Federal Republic, OFR: The Rising of A Reformer!
The gold fish has no hiding Place, so goes the saying. When Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna threw in the hat to slug it out with other contestants to lead the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in 2012, not too many could predict the future nor the fortunes now bestowed on the Agency because of his visionary style. NASENI, an Agency located in the Idu-Industrial Area of Abuja was rarely known, but today, it had risen to national reckoning and reputation, an image bigger than anyone could have imagined way back in 2012.
Engr. Prof.M.S Haruna’s stepping in at the helm of affairs of NASENI had not only reformed the Agency as Nigeria’s agency of hope in the journey toward industrialization, but also a clear testimony to the assertion that it takes only a man of high dreams and boldness to make the required difference and to bring those lofty ideas that liberate both the generation now and next to pass. Nigeria needs new set of leaders, no doubt. New leaders not because they will be perfect, but rather they will be visionary. They will be bold. They will be courageous and they will take risks with never say die spirit.
Altogether, in less than 24 hours from now, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of NASENI will clad the national honour of OFFICER of the ORDER OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC (OFR) and an Award of Excellence in Public Service to be conferred at a special session, the last Federal Executive Council (FEC) of 2022, to be presided over by His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari,GCFR, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Nigerian National Honours are a set of orders and decorations conferred upon Nigerians and friends of Nigeria every year. They were instituted by the National Honors Act No. 5 of 1964, during the First Nigerian Republic, to honour Nigerians who have rendered service toward the development of the country. These honours are distinct from the honours that are part of the country’s ancient chieftaincy system, which is a separate (but also legally defined) entity. National Honours are the highest honours or awards that a citizen can receive from his or her country for service to the country.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, the conferment on the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Engr. Prof. Mohammad Sani Haruna will be done exclusively for the NASENI boss ahead of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting to be chaired by the President himself at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa. Incidentally, the Council meeting, according to the President, would be the last for the year.
President Buhari’s decision to confer the national honour on the NASENI boss was announced himself during his address at the commissioning of the agency’s headquarters named, Muhammadu Buhari Technology and Innovation Complex,(MBTIC), Idu-Industrial Area, Abuja recently.
The President is also the Chairman of NASENI Governing Board. According to him, he was impressed by the performance of the agency so far with what it has been able to achieve under his administration despite serious funding constraints; classifying the agency as one of the pivotal legacies his administration would bequeath to the next administration in 2023.
According to him, the agency, under Haruna’s leadership has been repositioned to become a Technology and Innovation Hub for national development. “This is one pivotal legacy of this administration. With this complex and the available facility, the future of our national competitiveness among global economies is promising. We are sure that these advanced Science and Engineering core facilities will assist our nation in the attainment of Africa Union’s 2063 Agenda and United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, 2030.” Noting that the agency, created over 30 years ago had been facing multifarious challenges making it to perform below its potentials in the past, the President said his administration was determined to reverse the trend.
“NASENI has a long history of establishment and has been in existence for over 30 years now, but the agency has been facing so many challenges that were mitigating against the realisation of her full potential in line with the Act that established the Agency. Under my Chairmanship, NASENI is undergoing a reinvention and transformation to become a Technology and Innovation Hub for our national development.
“Consequently, President Buhari said his administration had strategically repositioned NASENI to develop local capacity in machine building and fabrication, which is critical to Nigeria’s Industrial development.”
On why he was impressed by the Haruna’s leadership and resolved to surprise him with the award and honour, Buhari noted that NASENI has begun to domesticate foreign technologies and product development through backward integration, adding that “the recent attraction of 250 Czeck Koruna or $10.5 Million US Dollar Research and Development grant to Nigeria is evidence that our transformation is achieving results in building competitive Agency.”
Buhari who said that NASENI, under his watch as the Chairman, has lived up to its expectations and has performed well, added that the Agency has invented useful and historic intelligence and defence-related equipment and devices and has engineered, in collaboration with reputable organisations, Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) with advanced features and Mine Resistant Ambushed Protected (MRAP) vehicles amongst others. He added that NASENI was advancing the Agricultural Self Sufficiency, Energy, Power and Home Grown Technology Programmes of his Administration.
Congratulations to Engr. Prof. M.S. Haruna, FAEng, FNSE, FNATE, FIET (OFR) and Congratulations to the Entire NASENI Familly.
SIGNED
Mr.Olusegun Ayeoyenikan
Deputy Director Information, NASENI
20/12/2022