The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure and the African University of Science and Technology in Abuja have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration on innovation, technology development, and the commercialisation of research outputs.
The agreement, signed at NASENI’s headquarters, aims to move research beyond academic publications into practical, real-world applications. The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Khalil Halilu, described the partnership as a step toward fostering institutional collaboration with tangible impact.
In a statement on Monday, NASENI’s Director of Information, New Media and Protocol, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to partnerships that translate research into practical, real-world solutions.
“NASENI is focused on innovation that targets the right audience and produces tangible outcomes. Our Innovation Hub ensures promising ideas are nurtured, supported, and scaled into usable technologies that contribute to national development,” Halilu said.
Halilu also emphasised the importance of close collaboration with universities and research institutions to bridge the gap between academia and industry. “This is your home, and we look forward to doing a lot of collaborations together,” he added.
Responding, AUST President Peter Onwualu highlighted the long-standing relationship between the institutions, recalling past collaborations, postgraduate training programmes, and joint initiatives that benefited NASENI staff and researchers.
Onwualu said the MoU would help address the challenge of limited research commercialisation.
“We are changing the narrative from research done solely for academic promotion to research that ends in products, innovation, and real value,” he said, citing ongoing agro-waste conversion projects under NASENI’s Delta-2 programme.
Both institutions agreed to deepen cooperation in innovation, technology transfer, and human capital development. AUST also invited NASENI to its upcoming international conference on innovation in April, where the agency is expected to be recognised for its contributions to advancing research commercialisation in Nigeria.
