Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Halilu, will speak on the agency’s plans and strategies for rural electrification in Nigeria, using homegrown technologies.
He will speak at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as Conference of the Parties (COP28), holding at the Expo City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
As contained in a press release e-signed by NASENI Director of Information, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, though the conference officially opened today, Halilu will speak on 3 December.
The NASENI EVC/CEO will deliver opening remarks and also participate at a panel session titled “Advancing Sustainable Rural Electrification through Homegrown Technologies”.
COP28, also referred to as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC), will hold from November 30 to December 12, 2023.
It is intended for governments to agree on policies to limit global temperature rises and adapt to impacts associated with climate change.
The event will be graced by presidents and Heads of State, government officials, business leaders, investors, development partners, civil society organisations, academics and media.
The panel session will be moderated by Al Amin Idris, CEO of Interface Africa, it was stated in the release.
Halilu will speak alongside Gunther Beger, Managing Director of the Directorate for SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation, UNIDO; Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State; and Miklós Veszprémi, Climate & Sustainability Expert Consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
The NASENI boss is expected to discuss the roles NASENI is currently playing, back home, to promote development and adoption of homegrown technologies for rural electrification in Nigeria.
He will as well speak on other initiatives undertaken by the agency to advance sustainable rural electrification in the country.
Halilu since assumption of office in September 2023 has made sustainable rural electrification, via renewable energies, one of his key priorities.
This was having embarked on partnership commitments with government agencies and companies such as Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL).
The partnership to ensure that rural communities and homes are provided with affordable renewable energy solutions.
This is being accomplished through provision of fund toward research and development, facilitating technology transfer and support for commercialisation of innovative solutions.
In September, NASENI and REA agreed to work together to deploy NASENI solar resources and other renewable energy technologies to increase electricity supply to Nigeria’s rural areas.
Also in November, Family Homes Funds Limited signed an MoU with NASENI to promote modern and sustainable building designs for affordable housing across Nigeria.
NASENI EVC/CEO said during the MoU signing event with FHFL that “the agency will contribute toward reducing the cost of building materials so that Nigerians can build, own homes and to deploy affordable solar energy solutions.”
FHFL is a limited liability company owned by the Federal Government and is represented by the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) was established in 1992 by the Federal Government with the mandate specifically in the area of capital goods research, production, and reverse engineering.
It broad areas of operation covers engineering materials, industrial and analytical chemical materials, scientific equipment and components and engineering equipment.
Its other areas of operation include engineering designs and standardisation, power equipment, electrical electronics and engineering materials development, etc.
NASENI operates mainly through its development institutes, each of which has a unique mandate of engineering infrastructural development and production systems.
At present, there are 10 functional development Institutes and 10 emerging institutes spread across Nigeria.
The agency has undertaken several initiatives to advance sustainable rural electrification in Nigeria.
These included establishing the Rural Electrification Innovation Hub, providing grants to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), developing renewable energy solutions and collaboration with international partners to share best practices.
NASENI’s intervention in the energy sector of the economy also included establishment of pioneering projects like local manufacturing of Solar panels in Nigeria (being First of its kind since 2011).
NASENI Solar Energy Limited located at Karshi, FCT Abuja is wholly involved in production of solar panels, batteries and other appliances.
The agency has local capacity for design and manufacturing of Small Hydro Power (SHP) turbines and installation.
It is also involved in the design locally and production of Pole Mounted Transformers and wind turbines, etc., all of which will boost the power situation in the country especially in rural areas.
NASENI also produces energy saving bulbs through one of its institutes-Electronic Development Institute (ELDI), Awka, Anambra State.
