NASENI charts part to industrial, tech development

The only way to industrial and technological development in Nigeria is through the Federal Government’s commitment to Research and Development (R&D), the Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammed Haruna, has said.

According to Haruna, unless the government pays more attention to and funds researchers in the industrial and technological sector, the economy may continue to lag behind.

He spoke with journalists, yesterday, at the Kaduna Polytechnic (KADPOLY), after the commissioning of a lecture theatre named after him, following his contribution towards technological advancement in the country.

Haruna said the level of R&D towards the country’s economic growth had been on track, adding: “The government has paid due attention to the development of the science and technology sector generally by putting more funds in infrastructure, training, capacity building and research.”

The NASENI boss, who remarked that the outcome of government’s efforts towards R&D would be felt in no distant time, noted: “For example, my agency has existed for 32 years. With funding mechanism in the past, the plans were never implemented until the present administration.”

He listed sources of funding to include, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Ecological Fund and Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

“With the efforts of the present government, and Czech Republic, based on bilateral relations with Nigeria, has offered a lot of money for Nigeria’s research to solve various economic problems,” he added.

Besides, during the commissioning, encomia were showered on Haruna’s contribution to tech education in the country, especially in the polytechnics and other tertiary institutions.

Among those who lauded Haruna’s efforts, leading to the naming of the lecture theatre after him, were the Governing Council Chairman of KADPOLY, Sen. Muhammed Muhammed; the Acting Rector, Dr. Suleiman Umar and the National President of KADPOLY Alumni Association, Abada Adamu.