From Abdulfatah Babatunde
Investing in human capital development and staff motivation remain the best ways of repositioning the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), its CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu said.
These, Halilu said, would propel the agency into a powerhouse of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) on the global scene.
NASENI boss made these remarks in a keynote address, at the opening of a five-Day training in Abuja.
The training is for the Information, New Media and Protocol staff of the agency.
TheNewsZenith reports that the training participants were drawn from the Headquarters and Institutes.
Halilu said investing in staff training and development was vital for the success of any organisation.
According to him, the management is building a new NASENI.
“This is with the overarching goals of having well-trained employees with knowledge and requisite skills for technological advancement.
“This reorientation will bring to fruition the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration,” he said.
Halilu reiterated NASENI’s mission to drive Nigeria’s rapid industrialisation through the three Cs of Collaboration, Creation and Commercialisation.
In the past four months, he said the agency has started new partnerships and collaborations.
These aimed at exposing its 150 scientific and technological prototypes, products and intellectual property rights (IPR) into finished products.
“We have signed multibillion-dollar new Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) and revived old ones with international technical partners.”
The MOUs are for establishing coal-based fertiliser plants, Lithium processing and Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing plants.
Others are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for Agriculture, afforestation, smart solar irrigation, tractor repairs and crop traceability for food security.
He said training would enable the Information and Protocol staff of the agency to catch up with the current trends.
They will learn international standards for mastering intricacies of New Media and Protocol Strategies to take NASENI to greater heights.
The Coordinating Director of Engineering Infrastructure, Prof. Bagudu Dansheu Gwadangaji, urged the Information Staff to adapt to new media and protocol strategies to ensure the continued success and relevance of NASENI.
Represented by Dr Olayode Olasupo, the director encouraged participants to actively engage in all sessions, collaborate with their peers and absorb the knowledge that this training has to offer.
“The insights gained here will contribute to your skills, allowing you to make valuable contributions to our ICT initiatives,” Gwadangaji said.
Also, the Coordinating Director, for Science Infrastructure, Prof Umar Ibrahim Gaya said that the theme of the training was timely as it would equip participants with the necessary skills to combat fake news.
Fake news, he said, can affect organisations negatively. “When you talk about NASENI, so many things come to mind.
“As an Agency with a first-line charge from the Federation Account, there is likely to be fake news out there about us.
“Therefore, this training will help equip the participants to separate information from misinformation and misrepresentation.
“We hope your deliberations will help the management to achieve the agency’s mandate,” Gaya said. (AEPNews)
Do you have a flair for Citizenship Journalism? Share story(ies) of happenings in your area with The aepnewsonline on WhatsApp: 08033668669 or Newsroom@aepnewsonline.com, Editor@aepnewsonline.com
