Onwualu made the call while delivering the keynote address at a two-day workshop on Scientific and Technological Capacity Development for Industry 4.0 in Nigeria, held on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) headquarters in Abuja.

He said Nigeria must move beyond consuming technologies developed elsewhere and develop the capacity to research, adapt, produce and apply technologies that address local challenges.

According to him, effective collaboration would help Nigeria become a creator and developer of technology, while also building the human capacity required to operate, maintain and adapt advanced technologies.

Speaking earlier, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s ability to develop and apply homegrown technologies to drive industrial growth, create jobs and promote sustainable economic development.

Represented by NASENI’s Coordinating Director, Planning and Business Development, Dr. Mrs. Nonyem Onyechi, Halilu said the Fourth Industrial Revolution presents Nigeria with opportunities to improve productivity, build new industries and tackle national development challenges.

He said Nigeria must embrace emerging technologies and increase investment in research, development, adaptation, production and application.

The NASENI boss also highlighted the agency’s commitment to strengthening the innovation pathway from research and design to prototyping, technology development, production, commercialisation and industrial application.

Onwualu identified renewable energy, electronics, advanced materials, precision engineering, agricultural mechanisation and clean mobility as priority areas capable of supporting Nigeria’s industrial transformation.

He also called for practical training and continuous learning for scientists, engineers, researchers, technicians and young professionals, urging stronger partnerships that would move research findings from laboratories into factories, farms, businesses and communities.

The Director of the Nanoscience Department, NASENI, Dr. Chika S. Ezeanyanaso, said Industry 4.0 was transforming production through artificial intelligence, automation, big data analytics, advanced materials and modern manufacturing.

She stressed the need for Nigeria to strengthen its scientific and technical capacity, digital competence and human capital to harness emerging technologies for sustainable industrial development.

The Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer, Dr. Dahiru Muhammad, also emphasised the importance of relevant skills, stronger links between research and enterprise, and inclusive digital transformation.

The agency made this known at the grand finale of the NASENI InnovateNaija Awards 2026, held on Wednesday, October 7, at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.

InnovateNaija, organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), brought together innovators, investors, government officials and other stakeholders to celebrate innovation across the country. The programme attracted participants from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, culminating in the selection of 15 national finalists.

Representing NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Hajjiya Iklima Musa delivered a goodwill message, emphasising the importance of innovation, digital technology and strategic partnerships in Nigeria’s economic development.

She congratulated NASENI on the initiative, noting that the programme, launched at GITEX Nigeria 2025, had grown from a platform for identifying innovators into a national initiative recognising state champions, an FCT champion and 15 national finalists.

According to her, sustained support for innovators is essential to building a strong innovation ecosystem and enabling young Nigerians to develop solutions to local challenges while creating economic opportunities.

Musa highlighted NITDA’s support programmes, including the Nigeria Startup Act, under which 348 startups have received startup labels, giving them access to more than 31 incentives.

She also disclosed that the agency’s iHatch programme had supported more than 400 startups and 74 innovation hubs through mentorship, training and investment-readiness support.

Other initiatives mentioned included the iHatch Upskilling Programme and the National Innovation Hub Standards Framework, which are designed to strengthen the capacity of startups and innovation hubs.

The NITDA representative encouraged the national finalists and state champions to take advantage of opportunities available through the Startup Portal, startup labelling and the iHatch programme.

She further reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to collaborate with NASENI and other stakeholders to expand support for innovators and strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was represented at the event by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh. Other dignitaries included the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande Wisdom, and Kaduna State Deputy Governor Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe.

The Coordinating Director (CD), Planning and Business Development, Dr (Mrs.) Nonyem Onyechi, made the call while declaring open a three-day training programme on Monitoring, Evaluation and KPI Development for Planning Professionals, held from September 28 to 30, 2026, at NASENI headquarters in Abuja.

Onyechi said the training was designed to strengthen strategic thinking, integrated development planning, monitoring and evaluation, performance management and KPI development across NASENI’s development institutes.

According to her, technical expertise and innovation must be supported by clear strategic direction, disciplined project tracking, effective monitoring and evaluation, and sound financial management to translate technological breakthroughs into measurable national development outcomes.

She said strategic thinking requires aligning the daily activities of personnel with NASENI’s overarching mission, while monitoring and evaluation should focus on measurable outcomes and actual results rather than merely documenting activities.

Onyechi added that effective performance management and KPI development would help ensure that NASENI’s projects and programmes remain aligned with institutional objectives and provide a consistent basis for measuring performance.

She noted that the contribution of every NASENI staff member, whether at the headquarters or any of the agency’s development institutes across the country, has a direct bearing on the agency’s performance and national standing.

Meanwhile, the Director, Planning and Policy Analysis Department, NASENI headquarters, Dr MacDonald Aloko, said the training was part of efforts to strengthen planning and policy processes across the agency.

One of the facilitators, strategic planning expert and consultant Mr Ahmed Muhammed, speaking on “Integrated Development Planning for the NASENI System,” emphasised the importance of strategic planning as a foundation for effective institutional management and project delivery.

Muhammed warned that poor planning could create significant risks, particularly when organisations fail to anticipate financial, administrative and implementation challenges.

He identified delays in budget releases as one of the major risks that should be incorporated into project planning and implementation strategies.

The beneficiaries comprised 220 people trained under the NASENI Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP), including 100 men trained in solar installation and 120 women trained in the production of household essentials such as soap, liquid soap, Vaseline and other products.

Another 250 youths and women received training in NASENI’s clean cookstoves and home solar solutions under the Sustainable Empowerment Programme (NSEP), during a five-day programme held at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Wannune.

Speaking at the closing ceremony held at the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, Prof. Bolaji Babatunde, who represented the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, urged the beneficiaries to put the skills acquired during the training to productive use.

Babatunde encouraged the beneficiaries to start small, take advantage of available opportunities and gradually build sustainable businesses from the skills they acquired.

He said the initiative aligned with the Federal Government’s efforts to expand economic opportunities, strengthen human capital and promote a more productive and inclusive economy.

Also speaking, the Acting Coordinating Director, Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, Engr. Dr. Rasheed Abdullahi Agava, said the objective of the two initiatives was to empower beneficiaries to become employers of labour and achieve economic self-reliance.

Agava said the skills acquired by the solar installation trainees placed them in one of the fastest-growing areas of Nigeria’s economy, as households, businesses, farms, schools and public institutions increasingly adopt renewable energy solutions.

He added that NASENI was supporting the development of Nigeria’s domestic renewable-energy ecosystem by helping to build the capacity to produce, deploy and maintain technologies required for the country’s energy future.

The Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, Dr Emmanuel Toyer Dajoh, thanked NASENI for initiating the training and urged the beneficiaries to utilise the skills acquired as a foundation for building successful enterprises.

He said the training would not only improve the beneficiaries’ livelihoods but also contribute to building a better future for their families and communities.

Umar visited the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

During the visit, the NMDPRA chief toured key NASENI facilities, including the Centre of Excellence, Innovation Hub and HatchBox, where he received insights into the agency’s efforts in technology development, innovation and commercialisation.

The engagement also focused on potential areas of collaboration, particularly the deployment of homegrown technologies and innovative solutions to support Nigeria’s energy and industrial development.

Umar commended NASENI for its efforts in advancing Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and transforming research, engineering and technology into practical solutions capable of supporting economic growth and national development.

In his response, Halilu expressed NASENI’s readiness to deepen collaboration with relevant institutions in line with the agency’s mandate to promote technology transfer, commercialisation and sustainable industrialisation.

The agency disclosed this at the second edition of its Science Perspective Engagement Series, held at the Technology Orientation Centre (TOC), NASENI Headquarters, Abuja.

The proposed hub is expected to advance Nigeria’s capabilities in metal 3D printing, a technology that allows manufacturers to produce complex components directly from digital designs by building materials layer by layer.

Speaking during the engagement, the Overseeing Officer of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Development Institute (AMTDI), a division of NASENI in Jalingo, Taraba State, Abdulrahman Barindo Bauro, described metal additive manufacturing as a game changer for industrial development.

Bauro explained that the technology could improve manufacturing efficiency, precision and the production of highly customised and complex components while reducing material waste.

According to him, the proposed facility would support the production of components for sectors including aerospace, automotive, healthcare, energy and defence.

He said, “Additive manufacturing creates components directly from digital designs by building materials layer upon layer, unlike conventional manufacturing processes that remove material from larger workpieces and often generate significant waste.”

Bauro said developing local capacity in the technology would help Nigeria retain capital currently spent on imported components while strengthening indigenous manufacturing capabilities.

He added that the initiative would align with efforts to deepen value addition in the solid minerals sector by locally processing minerals that could serve as feedstock for producing metal powders used in advanced manufacturing.

Beyond manufacturing, he said the hub could stimulate new businesses, create skilled jobs, generate revenue and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in emerging technologies.

Bauro explained that the envisioned manufacturing ecosystem would incorporate digital product design, process simulation, laser powder-fusion systems, powder recovery and recycling, surface finishing and quality assurance facilities.

To ensure the sustainability of the initiative, he advocated a public-private partnership model under which government would provide enabling infrastructure while private sector players contribute specialised equipment, technical expertise and investment capital.

Earlier, Deputy Director and Head of Research and Laboratory Development, Dr Hassan Bakare, described the Science Perspective Engagement Series as an important platform for knowledge exchange, innovation and practical solutions to Nigeria’s technological and industrial challenges.

Closing the session, Deputy Director, NanoBio, Mr Oladipo Dele Kayode, urged participants to translate insights from the engagement into tangible innovations capable of advancing Nigeria’s industrial and technological development.

The event, which began on Monday, 24th of August, 2026, is structured around Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with two zones featured each day. According to the host, the Northwest and Southwest zones were scheduled to pitch on the opening day.

The host explained that the day’s pitches would be anchored on specific thematic hackathon questions tailored to each zone. For the Northwest zone, participants were tasked with addressing the question of how gendered barriers limit access to opportunities for innovation and innovative thinking. The Southwest zone’s thematic challenge centred on how to combat the high cost of education, particularly for the average family.
 

Delivering the keynote address, the The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure(NASENI) Khalil Suleiman Halilu stated “Distinguished guests, partners, colleagues, and most importantly, our young future makers, it’s a great pleasure to welcome you to the NASENI Future Makers Program. At NASENI, we believe it’s not oil and gas or minerals, it’s our people, and particularly our young people. So the Future Makers was created around the simple idea, talent is everywhere, but opportunities are not. There are brilliant young Nigerians across this industry and this country with the ability to become engineers, scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and technology leaders. What many need is access, access to education, practical experience, mentorship. This program is about more than training people for jobs.”
 

At the end of the Northwest zone pitching session, Amina Ahmad emerged in 1st position with Skillswap Nigeria, an app that allows secondary school students to teach what they know to others while learning what they need from their preferred school. Ruqayah Safrah Faruq placed 2nd with Eco-Glow Lab, a project turning orange peels waste sourced in Kano, into materials that give children access to STEM and science. Maryam Amir Hamid placed 3rd.

For the Southwest zone, Joshua Agboola emerged 1st with PragmaLearn, Stephanie Emmanuella placed 2nd with LearnQuest, and Joel Idahosa placed 3rd with Relearn Marketplace.

While for the North Central region, Munachi Kalu came 3rd with her GreenHouse Project for Kids. Jatto Ahmed Tijani came 2nd with his Solar powered hermetic storage  silos while Mary Oluwabusayomi Umaholen came 1st with her project on Smart hydrophonic kit.
Winners from the South South region include Havilah Uche-Aniche with his SmartSesh pitch came 3rd, Ayomide Daniel Olorunfemi with Digital Skill app was in the second position while Precious Akabude-Odozi who pitched Velora came first.

According to the organisers, the winners in the first position would proceed to Abuja for a national pitch to win 5 million nairaand a world tour, with access to scholarship opportunities. Among the innovations pitched across the two zones were projects addressing waste recycling, mathematics, AI integration, flood management, and digital classroom learning.

Halilu made this known while receiving members of the Presidential Renewed Hope Media Tour at NASENI’s headquarters, where he outlined the agency’s strategy for advancing President Bola Tinubu’s industrialisation agenda through technology, innovation and strategic partnerships.

He said sustainable industrial growth is not determined by producing goods that are entirely made in Nigeria but by developing the right technologies and creating products that can compete in the market.

“Sustainable industrial growth does not require products to be 100 per cent locally produced. It requires strategic technology development, innovation and partnerships. At NASENI, we are prioritising commercially viable innovations that create jobs, reduce production time and support the Nigeria First Policy,” Halilu said.

He added that the agency is promoting technology transfer, commercialising research outputs and mentoring young innovators through initiatives such as the Innovate Naija Challenge, which provides a N500 million prize fund to support promising Nigerian innovations.

Speaking on behalf of the Presidential Renewed Hope Media Tour, the Special Adviser to the President on Communication, Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, praised NASENI’s achievements, describing the agency’s progress in local technology development as impressive.

The delegation also toured NASENI’s facilities, including its drone technology, helicopter assembly, precision manufacturing, renewable energy, agricultural technology and recycling projects.