PRESS STATEMENT
NASENI, Abia State Government Sets to Ensure Patronage of Made in Nigeria Products
Pursuant of President Buhari’s Administration agenda of providing 10 million jobs to unemployed Nigerian youths, NASENI ‘s drive for partnerships with the states Governments are gaining momentum as the Agency and Abia State Government on Tuesday agreed to work together to support Aba entrepreneurs and other small industries already existing in the State.
The agreement was at the instance of the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of NASENI Engr Prof.. Maiwalima Mohammad Sani Haruna lead the management team of the Agency courtesy visit to the State Governor Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu in Abia State to seek areas of possible collaboration with the State government.
In his presentation to the Governor, The EVC/CE of NASENI Engr. Prof Maiwalima Mohammad Haruna said NASENI offered to collaborate with Abia State Government in priority interest areas for the benefit of people of Abia State, adding that ” NASENI ‘s approach in the vision of President Buhari’s Administration is to enable local ownership, job creation, technology advancement and sustainable industrial revolution through bridging technology gaps to economic diversification.”
He noted that NASENI could coordinate the proliferation of technologies developed either within or outside of its development institutes.
“Technologies so developed in the areas of spares, components and systems engineering are to be transferred to entrepreneurs and SMEs for production of goods and services for rapid technology development “, he stated.
He however called on the Governor to allocate the Metallurgical Complex at Umuakolika established since 1976 but not functional to NASENI so that it can situate new development institute there, revive the complex, rehabilitate and install some of its machines to make it functional for wealth and job creation for Aba people.
“Also NASENI can collaborate with the state government to resuscitate the facilities at IBB Technology Village by providing shared facilities and modern manufacturing machines for technology innovators to turn their ideas into technology business”, he noted.
According to Prof.Haruna, other areas NASENI would like to partner with the Abia State Government is on the Textile industries in Aba. He said Abia tailors supported Federal government in production of facemask.
“Your Government has done a lot. for instance the 30 artisans you trained in 2018 on leather production and the proposed footwear academy, palm oil processing amongst others are remarkable.
NASENI can collaborate with the state government to locally develop machines and equipment needed to grow these booming industries “, he affirmed.
Responding, the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu said that he was delighted with the achievements NASENI had recorded and would support the 1% allocation from the federation account to the Agency to enabe it continue with development of engineering infrastructures across the country.
According to him, ” This is an eye opener and has boosted my confidence that Nigeria will one day be competing with other developed countries of the world in promoting products and equipment made in Nigeria.
He said NASENI was dealing with contemporary issues and dynamics in its venture such as Keke NASENI, COVID-19 Interventions and other modern technological innovations.
According to Governor Ikpeazu, Nigerian youths are very talented and must be encouraged, adding that when an inventor sees his innovations in the hands of the authorities he will be motivated to do more
“In Abia State, we have talents and we have been doing all we can to support them. We are into so many things both in industry and agriculture. So we are interested in reverse engineering. We have cottage industries, palm oil producing factories among others but we need support in agriculture to create jobs and stop youth restiveness.
He however promised to collaborate with NASENI and offered the Youth the Game Village or the Metallurgical Complex to NASENI to build its institute even as he promised to come to Abuja to sign all the necessary documents for the take off of the partnership.
SIGNED:
Chinyere Ekwuazi.
Asst. Chief Information Officer
NASENI.
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