The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has said the engineering work on the first Made-in-Nigeria helicopter is nearing completion.
The agency promised that it would soon fly the Nigerian chopper.
The Project Manager of NASENI’s Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute in Kaduna, Kareem Aduagba, announced this yesterday during a Focus Group Engagement organised by the agency.
The focus group engagement, which was attended by inventors and manufacturers from the academia and private sectors in Kaduna, was meant to promote local manufacturing, innovation, and the adoption of Made-in-Nigeria products.
The forum brought together government officials, industry leaders, and innovators to discuss policies that would drive Nigeria’s industrial and technological growth.
Aduagba said: “What we are doing now is not to reinvent the wheel. We had one of our projects being started from the first principle, which we are working on – the made-in-Nigeria helicopter and some Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
“We have some, which we bought over from developed countries …in Semi Knock Downs (SKDs) and some Complete Knock Downs (CKDs). So, we are now making use of science and engineering knowledge to work on the SKDs and the CKDs.
“Very soon, we are going to do the first test. Everything is nearing completion now. Very soon, we will fly the first made-in-Nigeria helicopter.”
Also, the Head of the Manufacturing Services Department at the Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute in Kano (under NASENI), Abdulfatai Ambali, emphasised the agency’s renewed focus on commercialisation, collaboration, and creation under its current leadership.
He said: “Many Nigerians are not aware of NASENI and its activities. However, with the current leadership under the Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Suleman Halilu, the agency is prioritising awareness, stakeholder engagement, and community impact.”
He said NASENI was working to develop homegrown technology to reduce the country’s over-reliance on foreign products with many innovative solutions already deployed across various sectors.
The facilitator of the programme, Saleh Kwaru, urged Nigerians to support local industries, stressing that national development depends on patronising homegrown products.
“We must look inward and leverage our resources. Constantly relying on foreign products weakens our economy,” he said.
The acting Zonal Coordinator for the North West Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Yusuf Suleman, lauded the agency for organising the event in order to address the challenges that hinder locally-made products in the areas of quality and finishing.
He said: “Innovation and modern technology are key to improving the acceptance of Nigerian products. This kind of engagement will help tackle production challenges and create more job opportunities.”
Solacebase
