The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has introduced a new policy requiring its Development Institutes to prioritize the use of NASENI-made technologies and products.
This directive aims to enhance internal collaboration and support the agency’s commercialization strategy.
The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil S. Halilu, approved the policy as a step toward increasing the adoption of NASENI innovations in external markets. He emphasized that internal endorsement and usage would strengthen market credibility and foster greater collaboration within the agency.
In an internal memo dated January 31, 2024, sent to all Acting Managing Directors and Overseeing Officers of NASENI’s Development Institutes nationwide, the agency mandated inter-institute patronage. The 11 Development Institutes, along with newly established ones, must prioritize procuring and utilizing each other’s technologies, equipment, and innovations, as long as procurement regulations permit, before making them available externally.
The policy is designed to boost confidence in NASENI products, refine them through real-world application, and improve their chances of success in the broader market.
Key components of the policy include:
- Mandatory Product Integration: Institutes must prioritize NASENI-made products in procurement plans, such as NASENI-branded laptops, where budgets allow.
- Internal Pilots and Testing: Each institute will conduct pilot programs to test and refine products before wider distribution.
- Inter-Institute Product Showcases: Institutes will host bi-annual exhibitions to display innovations, share insights, and explore integration opportunities. Mini-showrooms will also be set up in key urban areas.
- Cross-Institute Training: Staff will receive training on using and promoting NASENI-made products effectively.
- Internal Endorsement and Market Credibility: Leadership will support the use of NASENI technologies to strengthen their appeal in external markets. Institutes will also prioritize products from NASENI’s partnerships, such as the NASENI-IMOSE collaboration.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: A reporting system will track product adoption, feedback, and challenges to ensure continuous improvement.
NASENI expects the policy to build stronger internal confidence in its products, foster collaboration between institutes, and create a reliable commercialization model for external markets. Additionally, the initiative will enhance product development through rigorous internal testing and feedback.
The policy underscores NASENI’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s technological capabilities by ensuring that its innovations undergo internal validation before reaching the wider market.
