From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
As part for efforts to revitalise Nigeria’s manufacturing capacity and boost the economy, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has unveiled plans to transform 300 hectares of land at the Abuja Technology Village (ATV) into a hub for factories, technology companies, and innovation-driven enterprises.
Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr Khalil Halilu disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
Halilu, who also took a tour of the site located off Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Expressway, described the partnership as a bold move away from doing research for the sake of it to actual industrial production that will benefit the country.
He said the agency is committed to attracting local and foreign investors to convert the space into a thriving zone of economic activity.
“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,” he said.
“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,” he added.
Halilu disclosed that NASENI had developed 35 market-viable products in the last year alone, and said the collaboration with ATV would help scale those innovations. He also described Abuja as the natural location for the initiative, citing shared goals, strategic positioning, and investment incentives.
In his remarks, Acting Managing Director of Abuja Technology Village Free Zone Company, Mr Isa Yusuf Shafeek, welcomed the partnership, describing it as timely and essential for Nigeria’s push toward industrialisation.
“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 technology-driven projects,” Shafeek said.
Also speaking, Dr Dahiru Mohammed, Special Adviser on Foreign Partners and Inter-Governmental Affairs to the NASENI EVC, said the initiative is critical to Nigeria’s human capital development.
According to him, “We may even require more space beyond 300 hectares soon due to the high level of interests this partnership is already generating. This collaboration is a bold step toward reducing our dependence on imports and fostering domestic innovation.”
Established in 2009, the Abuja Technology Village is a Special Economic Zone in the Federal Capital Territory. It serves as a platform for innovation and entrepreneurship, focusing on key sectors such as ICT, biotechnology, minerals, and energy.