The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has signed an agreement with the government of Indonesia on empowerment of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.
In a statement, NASENI said the deal was sealed when the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Harry Purwanto and his team visited NASENI headquarters in Abuja.
Acting Executive Vice Chairman, NASENI, Dr. Aliyu Maje Adnan said the partnership with Indonesia would facilitate capacity development on science and technology that would improve operations of SMEs in the country.
He stated: “The new NASENI we all desire is one which uses engineering principles to create jobs, address poverty in Nigeria and also empower Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to produce products which can compete both at local and foreign market.”
The NASENI boss said the agency must return to its original mandate. “The primary mandate of NASENI is to empower SMEs through impartation of technologies, engineering principles and practices for the production of equipment that will meet international standards as well as sustenance of a flourishing local capital goods or industry,” he said.
Adnan commended the ambassador for visiting and called for stronger ties with the agency in areas of science, engineering and technology capacity building.
“We will strengthen the existing relationship with Indonesia and keep it alive in order to move to the next level to allow joint programmes that are beneficial to both parties, especially focusing on SMEs in developing science and technology that will not only create wealth for the nation but tackle unemployment and eradicate poverty,” he added.
In his remark, the Indonesia ambassador said the visit was part of efforts to explore all areas of collaborations with NASENI, adding that his country was specialized on building capacity on science and technology development.