461
By Daniel Adaji
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have renewed their strategic partnership to advance indigenous defense technologies and foster local innovation in aerospace and infrastructure.
NASENI disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, noting that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Friday at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to the statement, the MoU marks a new phase of collaboration, with both institutions aligning their efforts with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Present at the signing was the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, who led a high-level delegation of senior Air Force officers. They were received by NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, and members of his management team.
Abubakar lauded NASENI’s contributions, especially in reverse engineering and the local production of engineering components that support Air Force operations.
He highlighted NASENI’s involvement in the C5 Rocket Project, commending the agency for producing rocket bodies, structural components, and conducting precision material analysis.
“The Air Force is seeking greater inclusion in the governance and execution of the hub,” the Air Marshal said, referencing the NASENI Northwest Technology Innovation Hub at the Air Force Institute of Technology in Kaduna.
He proposed that NASENI formally co-own the C5 Rocket Project and continue leading the production of rocket body structures while exploring cost optimizations.
To further strengthen the partnership, he invited NASENI to enroll its young researchers in newly developed R&D training modules at the Air Force Research and Development Institute. He also called for collaboration on capacity building in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining for Air Force technical personnel at NASENI’s Centre of Excellence.
In response, Halilu reaffirmed NASENI’s strong ties with the Air Force, describing the collaboration as “one of our smoothest and most productive.”
“We’ve achieved so much together – from reverse-engineering projects to shared innovation hubs and we are just getting started,” he said.
The NASENI boss also showcased the agency’s progress in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) development, drone pilot training, asset recovery initiatives, and CNC machining infrastructure. He encouraged the Air Force to fully leverage the agency’s available facilities.
He emphasised NASENI’s model of public-private collaboration as a cost-effective approach that maintains inclusive access for public institutions like the Air Force.
Speaking on the importance of the updated MoU, Halilu said, “It’s about building the future of Nigeria’s defense and innovation ecosystem together.” He added that the agreement is now more structured, result-driven, and focused on joint research, local manufacturing, human capital development, and knowledge exchange.