The House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology has called on National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to transfer its technological innovations to Nigerian entrepreneurs.
A statement by NASENI spokesman, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, said that the lawmakers made the call during an oversight visit to the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Chairman of the House Committee, Beni Lar, said that commercialising the technologies would have multiplier effect on the economy and assist in poverty alleviation in the country.
Lar assured research institutes of adequate funding to enable them carry out their mandates with a view to creating jobs and wealth for Nigerians.
She said that Nigeria needed technology in order to tap its vast human and material resources and to control them in the most efficient manner toward sustainable development.
“The Silicon Valley in United States rely on focused research and Development establishments like NASENI and other initiatives from individual innovators to churn out innovations or technology products to drive the American economy.
“This has given America leverage to control not only the United States economy in the direction of sustainable development but also exercising great influence on world economy.
“There is no way out of economic recession or poverty doldrums except by revitalising a productive national economy, “ the statement quoted the lawmaker as saying.
Lar stressed the need to change the funding mechanism for research and development institutes in Nigeria from the regular annual budget system to a more predictable source of funding.
“We are going to advocate this position in every platform in the course of our legislative duties, especially where actions and decisions need to be taken in causing that to happen immediately,’’ she said.
Receiving the lawmakers, NASENI Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Mohammed Haruna, said the Agency needed to collect statutory levy due to it from commercial companies.
“A successful collection of the statutory levy would reduce total dependency of NASENI on government funding, “ he said.
Haruna said that NASENI recently launched a solar-powered Electronic Voting Machine while its newly-developed 7.5 Kilowatt Solar technology facility was awaiting commercialisation.
“We can also boast of 35 kilowatt Propeller Turbines Power Generation technology, Cross Flow Small Hydro Turbine, 5 kilowatt and Kinetic Hydro turbine facility.
“Also to our credit are first Made in Nigeria tricycle and motorcycle, Nano science and Nano-Medicine facilities, Rotary Furnace manufacturing technology (all on commercial scale), “ he said
Others, were Pole mounted Transformer, Integrated Cassava Flour Manufacturing facility, energy saving bulb manufacturing technology, Multi Grain Threshing Machine and the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Facility.
NASENI was set up to produce home-grown technologies, local capital goods, machines and equipment to reduce over-dependence on importation by the country’s manufacturing sector.
