Nigeria’s economic growth hinges on research commercialisation — NASENI
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has reiterated that research commercialization is central to Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, gave the assurance at the North-Central Sensitization Programme on the NASENI Research Commercialization Grant Programme (NRCGP), held on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Represented by NASENI’s Research Director, Prof. Abdulmalik Ibrahim Onuwe, Halilu said the NRCGP was created to support viable research and development initiatives while advancing the agency’s mission and vision.
He explained that the application process for the grant is fully digital, transparent, and free from bureaucratic bottlenecks. “This sensitization is not just for personal benefit but also to empower prospective researchers from institutes who may seek guidance about the programme,” he said.
Halilu urged participants—including representatives from universities, the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NSRDA)—to take advantage of the programme to foster collaboration and innovation.
Presenting an overview of the NRCGP, Programme Coordinator and Special Adviser to the EVC on Science and Engineering Commercialisation, Engr. Dr. Anas Balarabe Yazid, outlined its objectives, eligibility criteria, and key assessment tools.
He noted that the grant aligns with NASENI’s principle of Creation, Collaboration and Commercialisation (3Cs), adding that research projects must be market-driven, clear, and aligned with both NASENI’s transformation agenda and Nigeria’s broader development goals.
In her closing remarks, Deputy Director of Planning and Policy Analysis, Ms. Joy Elugbe, expressed gratitude to the EVC and participants, urging researchers to embrace NASENI’s initiatives as pathways to national growth and progress.
