The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is to partner with the Abuja Technology Village (ATV) to advance technology development in Nigeria and accelerate technology transfer.
Under the partnership, hectares of land within the technology village will be developed for factories, technology companies, and innovation-driven manufacturing plants to boost the national economy with a major target of renewable products and fast-moving consumer goods such as batteries, panels, and electric vehicles.
Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, who disclosed this on Tuesday shortly before the tour of the technology village in Abuja, noted that NASENI has introduced many market viable products into the market in the last one year and wants to advance it’s quest for local production of products needed by Nigerians.
Halilu observed that the partnership will strengthen Nigeria’s production capacity, reduce reliance on imports, and drive sustainable economic development.
He said, “We are looking at building a community where people can work and live comfortably without the need to go out. NASENI will work to attract investments and create job opportunities through this initiative. Our goal is to promote national brands and local production through the Abuja Technology Village. This is just the beginning; more factories will rise, and innovation will flourish within the 300 hectares.
“We are assuring that ATV will not be disappointed. We will no longer keep our research on the shelf as prototypes. Today, we are making a clear commitment to turn renewable energy and other innovations into real, market-ready products. This partnership with ATV is a key step in that direction.”
Halilu stated that last year alone, NASENI developed 35 market-viable products, and that the collaboration with ATV will help scale those innovations. He emphasised the mutual benefits of the partnership, citing shared goals such as strategic location, investment incentives, and a joint vision for the technological advancement of Nigeria and the economy.
In his remarks, the Acting Managing Director of Abuja Technology Village Free Zone Company, Mr. Isa Yusuf Shafeek, commended NASENI’s efforts to transition from research and development to full-scale production, ensuring that locally developed technologies are usable and beneficial to the country.
He noted that the partnership would transform R&D outputs into production facilities at ATV, leverage incentives and strategic positioning to establish manufacturing outputs, adding that the partnership was designed to create jobs, promote local products, and strengthen Nigeria’s brand as a technology-driven economy.
He said, “This partnership is a perfect fit, especially when Nigeria urgently needs to build local production capacity. ATV is ready and committed to working with NASENI on various technologies.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Foreign Partners & Inter-Governmental Affairs to NASENI EVC, Dr. Dahiru Mohammed, highlighted the importance of the initiative for Nigeria’s human capital development.
Mohammed noted that establishing factories and attracting tech companies has been a top priority for the new NASENI’s leadership.
He said, “We may even require more space beyond 300 hectares soon due to the high level of interest this partnership is already generating. This collaboration is a bold step toward reducing our dependence on imports and fostering domestic innovation. The NASENI-ATV partnership marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s push for industrialisation and technology-based economic transformation.”
The Abuja Technology Village (ATV), established in 2009, is a pioneering technology park and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja. Strategically designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship, ATV offers a unique ecosystem that enables technology-based businesses to thrive.
Its state-of-the-art infrastructure and conducive environment make it an attractive hub for local and international companies, research institutions, and innovators. The village is focused on key sectors, including Information and Communication Technology, Biotechnology, Mineral Technology, and Energy Technology.
