Nigeria spends trillions of naira in the importation of both foodstuff and technology. In this interview with NKECHI ISAAC, the acting director of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Engr. Mohammed Haruna, says that the agency’s call on local entreprenuers to partner with it by investing in local technology has not always been answered. He also explains steps taken to expand the agency’s activities.
NASENI’s solar panel project is adjudged a breakthrough which will not only tackle the country’s power problems but also create jobs. How far have you gone with the project and when will Nigerians begin to reap its gains?
NASENI’s solar manufacturing module plant is already in operation and already in the market. However, it is an assembly plant. We have started to venture into the manufacturing of other raw materials that are needed in the production so as to reduce importation. Doing that will create a number of employment opportunities. For example, we have begun the production of the aluminum frames needed in the assembly of the modules, instead of importing them. A lot of advantages will spring up, besides the creation of employment opportunities. Also, the raw material – silicon – will now be available for our production, instead of importing.
This is a chain of economic activities that will create other smaller industries. However, our solar panels are already in the market.
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What is the agency’s plan concerning the solar panel project on the long run. In terms of concessioning it?
In the long run, as it is, it is the first of its kind in Nigeria. It is the pilot phase. A lot of parties will come to us to discover how we are doing this? -though this is presently happening- so that many others can take it up. Our production alone cannot serve Nigeria adequately.
Also, we are inviting interested participants to come with their raw materials, produce it on agreement, so that they can have quality solar products in exchange, while providing us with the opportunity for further research and development in the field.
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It is obvious that NASENI and its institutions have a number of other research products awaiting commercialisation; how will your administration achieve full commercialisation of these products?
We have already taken steps to reach the markets. The Association of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) has met us and we’re collaborating with them, not only for exhibition, but in several other fields that are coming within the year which will be made known before the end of the year. We have learnt from the initial success and difficulties of venturing into the markets. We took this as a concession to involve private participation from the beginning. For instance, some hours ago, we held a meeting with executives of the Oshogbo Machine Factory, the new owners of machine tools in Oshogbo. We’ve already invited them to participate in the manufacturing of tertiary institutions laboratory equipment, which is also an agreement between us, the National Board for Technical Education and TETFUND.
This agreement will see the production of machines – milling machines and the kind – not only for the tertiary institutions, but for small scale manufacturers of various products so that, from the beginning, NASENi is venturing into the projects with private collaboration such that reaching the market will not be a problem.
The proposed transformer assembly plant for Okene is also there. Again, from the beginning, we invited and got not only private interest, but also foreign private collaboration, so that, from day one, the project can have private participation and can be in the market.
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On the science kits you are producing, what plans do you have not only to market then in large numbers, but to cede the technology to SMEs?
Now, this is not only the challenge of the SMEs coming to demonstrate interests in order to take steps. We have invited them, and we are still doing so. We have been taking our products to all exhibitons. The science kits are in the market; those who use them are aware of their existence. The UBEB, SUBEB and others are aware of this and they have been coming for them. Private and public secondary schools are not left out. Tomorrow, we are expecting the UNESCO team. They will assess these kits and see how they can be of help, in order to acquire it and help equip other schools in Nigeria.
Also, as far as NASENI’s products are concerned, we write business plans, distribute them to appropriate agencies and associations and marketers and manufacturers to come for them. But, as I said, it is based on these experiences that we decided to get private participation from the onset of production in subsequent projects. This is because Nigerian manufacturers and entrepreneurs have been unwilling to invest in locally developed materials. That is the conclusion we have drawn from our experience with them.
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Your predecessor was visibly interested in local foundaries and had great dreams; do you intend to make these dreams a reality?
The local foundaries were a realised dream even while he was still in office, because the foundary had manufactured things and distributed same to institutions and manufacturing centres which were already engaged in production. The only thing we are doing presently is upgrading these foundaries. So far, we have 10 tonnes, but we are looking at 50 tonnes. We are considering automating some manual aspects of production in these industries. In other places, they have been used in recycling iron, producing ductile irons and other things.
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We also learnt that, shortly before the end of the previous administration, an approval was given for the creation of one more institute in Imo State; how far has the agency gone to ensure that this centre is operational?
The Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute which is to be sited in Aboh-Mbaise, Imo State, is very much in our programme for the year. We have identified the site where it should be sited, appointed a desk officer and NASENI is awaiting funding. It is captured in the 2012 appropriation budget. We are, in a nutshell, waiting for take-off funds to make our next move.
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Do you also have plans for some centres which are not in operation at the moment, such as the Chemical Equipment Development Institute in Rivers State and the one in Bauchi?
Yes. Due to funding, these institutions could not take off in the previous years. So, our approach is yielding fruit. For the Chemical Equipment and Machinery Development Institute, Rivers State, which is vital to the petroleum industry due to its location, we approached the NDDC; we met them several times and I was there about four weeks ago. We have invited them to collaborate with us, and they have been looking at their operational guidelines to see the possibilities. Also, we are reaching out to the Rivers State government – that this is what has been in the offing and we have also laid down our constraints to them (Rivers government). We have been looking at areas of collaboration such that will see the take-off. We are expecting favourable response from them.
For Bauchi State, the Heavy Industries Development Institute which was approved for NASENI since 2001. The state government has offered to assist us with N70million to help in the take-off. They also donated the former manufacturing facility of STEYR (a? manufacturing firm) as a take-off workshop for us. So, when some national planning logistics procedures are completed, these institutions will go into production, including one for Mineral Processing Equipment to be situated in Nasarawa Town in Nasarawa State.
The Nasarawa State government has also donated a skill acquisition centre and is also willing to offer some take-off grant. What we are saying is that these institutions are vital to for the development of the Nigerian economy to succeed, and our new approach is collaborating with the stakeholders in order to partner with NASENI and the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology for the successful take-off of these institutes.
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NASENI recently entered into an agreement with China on assembling? local transformers; what is the update on that?
This partnership, as I said, is to ensure the availability of electricity transformers of various sizes and is necessary for constant power supply in Nigeria.
As part of NASENI’s intervention, we developed 25 KVA transformers which were previously mounted, but those methods were not sufficiently automated, and the quantities supplied were inadequate. Kogi State and the China Great Wall company are all our partners and financiers. We are encouraging private investors in Nigeria to take part so as to ensure that the project becomes one from which Nigeria can benefit from in every way.
The project is still at the procedural stage, because there has to be provision of funds. The input from the ministries of Finance and Science and Technology are all waiting for appropriate approvals, because, for the agency, we cannot act entirely independent of government authority.
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Is the agency still on course as regards the nano-technology project?
Yes, in every way. In fact, the nano-technology project is a World Bank Step-B project. As I am talking to you, the NASENI team is in Bauchi for reasons relating to this project. Research institutes of particular universities partnering with? NASENI are very busy and in touch with us, giving us updates. Moreso, the donor is supervising the project to ensure it goes well.
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