News
Like China and Japan: NASENI is Pathway to Nigeria’s Industrial Economy
By Mr. Olusegun S. Ayeoyenikan
Nigeria cannot have real development without a sustainable industrial growth and manufacturing capacity which is the solution to poverty, unemployment and insecurity.
No doubt having an industrial goods production base and or a competitive industrial economy is the only remedy to Nigeria’s dependence on importation of goods, technologies and services from other nations.
What is an industrial economy? Simply put, it is the prevalent use of machines, equipment or technologies in industry and all business concerns which combine other factors of innovation, production, facilities, supplies, work and knowledge to produce material goods or services intended for the market.
The complex and functional nature of infrastructures and investments in science, technology and innovation system put in place by a nation to drive own’s industrial production and manufacturing techniques determine the relative presence or lack of apparent competitiveness in the production of processed and manufactured goods that are being connected between industrial activity and the activity in the primary sector, local or international trade and service activity.
When a nation significantly lacks the above-mentioned factors for economic efficiency, it faces industrial underdevelopment with all the associated deplorable social and economic conditions.
Countries like Japan and China who initially were not among European nations which experienced the first and second industrial revolutions in the 17th, 18th to 19th centuries respectively had rapidly advanced to join the league of industrialized nations of the West because those nations overtime deliberately invested in research and development (R&D), innovation, science and technology.
“Similarly, the newcomers to the global industrial arena, known as the Asian Tigers—Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and others—discovered the secret of substantial investments in science and innovation much earlier than many African nations, including Nigeria”
Science and technology, engineering research and innovation are the essential bedrocks for any meaningful industrialization endeavour to take place. The implication for Nigeria is that if engineering, science, technology and Innovation are not given due priority in our nation’s economic recovery and growth plans, any success expected to be achieved will soon be short-lived or unsustainable. Countries like Japan, U.S.A, China, Germany, Indonesia others had overtime gained their reputation as “Economic Giants” due to the priority which the leaders gave previously to R&D investments, earmarking 5-6 per cent of their gross domestic products (GDP) for the development of science, technology and innovation (STI). Investment in STI is a core factor of development and therein lies the secret of advanced nations’ leadership, pursuit and commitment.
The founding fathers of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure(Presidency) in 1992 established the agency with the aim of establishing and nurturing an appropriate and dynamic Science and Engineering Infrastructure base for achieving home-initiated and home-sustained industrialization process through the development of relevant processes, appropriate local machine design and machine building capabilities for capital goods and equipment manufacture to guarantee job creation, national economic well-being and progress.
Previous R&D efforts and other activities within NASENI’s mandate areas had translated into various technology interventions leading to attainment of capacities and capabilities in local mass production of capital goods, tools and equipment in critical sectors of the economy like agriculture, power, water resources, automotive industry, ICT, health, aviation, education, transportation, scientific equipment and manufacturing, chemical and other engineering materials. The list is boundless.
NASENI was strategically established to produce relevant technologies, set up industrial plants and stimulate knowledge-based entrepreneurship for the socio-economic advancement of the country. Its major challenge in the past were lack of patronage of its products and technologies by local entrepreneurs or businesses, exacerbated by low commercialization attempts of its R&D results, leaving most of them wasting away on the shelves.
However, with the coming on board of a new chief executive, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, a techpreneur and businessman, there has been a dramatic change of focus toward full commercialization of NASENI’s resources, making them available in the market to end users of its R&D products, machines and other equipment to boost the economy. NASENI today stands as a beacon of indigenous technological advancement, aligning with its core mission of fostering dynamic Science and Engineering Infrastructure for national progress.
The agency under the leadership of Halilu has articulated a bold vision to fuel Nigeria’s innovation for a sustainable future through the 3Cs principle of Collaboration, Creation and Commercialization which have indeed opened more doors to result-based partnerships with national and international communities.
According to Halilu, “our new model at NASENI is to do everything to conserve resources, avoid duplication of efforts, and shorten go-to-market time. What this means is that wherever we find serious partners who are already operating in our areas of interest, we will work with them to improve our products and take these products to the market. As a government agency, we are not out to compete with the private sector. Instead, we are here as partners and enablers, helping with everything from design to testing, or helping companies in scaling-up production capacity and to seek out new markets.”
The agency recently unveiled to the general public some branded technological products manufactured in collaboration with its partners. They included solar irrigation systems, electric vehicles (ranging from tricycles to motorcycles), NASENI home solar system, animal feed milling machines, laptop, smartphone, solar streetlamp and lithium battery. All these efforts were geared towards creating jobs and to reduce import bills.
NASENI is not only promoting the development of digital technologies such as mobile financial transaction platforms to bring more people into the formal economy, the agency is also carrying out additive manufacturing, using 3D printing and other advanced manufacturing technologies to produce goods locally. NASENI has developed an electronic voting solution to help reduce electoral malpractices during elections. The organization is also working on other projects such as smart prepaid meter and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to promote economic development in Nigeria.
In addition, there will be concerted efforts to increase the inputs of locally-sourced materials in all product components. NASENI will also work to ensure full transfers of all required Intellectual Property (IP) and technology elements including licensing for domestication and adaptations.
Halilu has pledged to keep the public updated about the progress in the industrial transformational journey of Nigeria, which is a direct manifestation of the Agency’s triple principle of Collaboration, Creation and Commercialization. “As the only purpose-built agency of the Federal Government in Nigeria with a technology transfer mandate, NASENI will always focus on progressively scaling-up local-content sourcing, and strengthening domestic technical and production capacities,” says Halilu.
Going forward, the agency will continue to play crucial roles in Nigeria’s economic transformation not only now, but also serve as leader in the promotion of science and technology, developing indigenous solutions to foster economic growth, provide capital goods and services based on sound engineering practices, support infrastructure development that are essential for manufacturing and economic growth, including driving technological advancement through R&D amongst other initiatives.
Let all hands be on deck at this critical time in the life of our nation as the agency and its team of stakeholders, partners and collaborators continue to assist in pulling Nigeria out of her socio-economic difficulties through STI. According to recent statistics by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s investment in science and technology has led to significant growth in sectors like telecommunications, IT, and e-commerce, contributing around 10-15 per cent to gross domestic product (GDP). However, compared to other developed nations whose economic growth is dependent on STI, Nigeria is still lagging behind. China’s investment in STI contributes around 30-40% to its GDP; UK’s investment contributes around 20-25%; USA’s investment contributes 30-40% to its GDP while Indonesia’s STI contributes around 10-15 percent.
The lasting solution to our country’s economic dilemma now is for us to turn determinedly toward a continuous investment in science, technology and innovations as we journey toward industrialization, and regarding this particular endeavour for Nigeria, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is on the driver’s seat.
Mr. Olusegun S. Ayeoyenikan is the Director Information, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Headquarters, Abuja
PalmPay has called for stronger infrastructure and better access to finance for small businesses as essential to the next phase of financial inclusion and economic growth in Nigeria.
This position was shared by Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay Nigeria, during a panel session at Digital Pay Expo 2026, where regulators, fintech leaders, payment operators and other key ecosystem stakeholders gather to discuss the future of digital payments in Africa.
Speaking during a session focussed on advancing financial inclusion and SME growth, Nwosu said that while the micro, small, and medium enterprises remain central to economic activity, many still face real barriers around access to credit, reliable payment infrastructure, and the relevant digital tools needed to grow sustainably.
According to him, meaningful financial inclusion must go beyond onboarding more users into the formal financial rail. It must also address the structural issues that limit how small businesses participate, transact, and scale.
“SMEs contribute 40 per cent of the country’s GDP. For us in PalmPay, Financial inclusion is not just about enabling transactions. It is also about helping businesses access the tools and support they need to expand, build resilience, and create jobs.
He also highlighted the importance of digital literacy, noting that as digital tools and AI become more embedded in financial services, business owners must be equipped to use them effectively and responsibly.
For PalmPay, the future of inclusion will depend not only on innovation, but on how well the ecosystem reduces friction for small businesses and provides the infrastructure and financial support they need to grow.
Discussions at the event also pointed to the need for stronger collaboration across the ecosystem and more practical approaches to helping SMEs move from awareness to adoption of digital financial services.
PalmPay’s MD noted that unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s SMEs will require a combination of accessible finance, financial education, trusted platforms, and coordinated ecosystem support.
The World Cup 2026 kicked off on June 11 and alongside it the number of scammers attempting to exploit fan excitement has also increased. According to Kaspersky, at least 336 unique domains mimicking official World Cup resources have been detected. In addition, cybercriminals are actively exploiting growing interest in match streaming and sports betting.
Fake broadcasting schemes
Since the start of the tournament, millions of viewers worldwide have been tuning in across TVs and other devices to watch matches live. At the same time, fraudsters have been creating websites offering “online streaming” of the championship.
The scam works as follows: attackers set up fake websites that claim to provide free access to World Cup broadcasts. After clicking “Watch now,” users are prompted to register to gain access. They are then asked to pay a cryptocurrency fee for “lifetime tournament access.” The danger of this scheme lies in the potential loss of both registration data and cryptocurrency funds.
Betting traps: When the wager is already lost
Another trap targeting football fans involves fraudulent betting and match prediction platforms. For instance, a Spanish-language website was found requesting extensive personal information, including first and last name, email address, phone number and more, under the guise of account creation.
Such schemes expose users to credential theft, particularly if they reuse the same password across multiple services, as well as to potential financial loss.
“Since the start of the tournament, scammers have increasingly focused on the ways fans engage with the event online, as watching matches today requires only an Internet connection and a device.
As a result, criminal activity continues to grow, as reflected in the fraudulent websites we observe offering streaming and betting services in multiple languages. We recommend that users stick to official broadcasts to help protect their data and finances,” says Olga Altukhova, Senior Web Content Analyst at Kaspersky.
You’ve got mail: (Un)real predictions
Another attack scenario involves emails in which attackers attempt to trick users into sending money or clicking phishing links. To increase engagement, these messages often use compelling subject lines and persuasive wording.
In one observed case, fans received emails advertising football analytics services and match winner predictions. A notable feature is the sense of urgency, asking recipients to act quickly, which is one of the common indicators of a possible scam email.
In this case, users are asked to pay a $200 fee to access football analytics. While the offer targets fans interested in betting, paying for such “services” can potentially result in irreversible financial loss.
News
CredibleVoteNG Opens Free Access to all Polling Units in Nigeria after INEC Demanded N1.Bn for Register
CredibleVoteNG, a citizen-built, open-access platform is hosting precise, verified information for all 37 states (including the FCT), 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs), and 176,846 individual polling units for free.
This is coming months after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) placed a N1.5 billion price tag on requests for Nigeria’s complete polling unit register under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
But CredibleVoteNG, being promoted by two Nigerian technology enthusiasts have built a platform that provides the same information free of charge.
The platform, offers structured digital access to all 176,846 polling units across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, covering the country’s 774 local government areas and 8,809 electoral wards.
The initiative emerged against the backdrop of a public controversy that followed INEC’s October 2025 response to an FOI request by a Nigerian law firm seeking the commission’s polling unit database.
In its reply, the electoral body estimated that providing the information would cost N1,505,901,750, citing the need to print more than six million pages at N250 per page.
The response triggered widespread criticism from lawyers, civil society organisations and transparency advocates, who argued that electoral information critical to democratic participation should be readily accessible to citizens.
While the debate continued, Kelly Omobude, software developer and Uzoanya Grant, product owner, quietly worked on what would become CredibleVoteNG, a free and open-source platform designed to make electoral data available to everyone.
Accessible online through a public Application Programming Interface (API), the platform requires no registration, subscription or API key.
Developers, journalists, election observers, political parties and ordinary citizens can access the data without charge.
According to the founders, the project was inspired by the belief that credible elections depend on unrestricted access to reliable information.
“Independent observation requires independent data. If every organisation is working from the same verified, open baseline — that is the foundation for credible accountability. That is what we are trying to provide,” they said.
The platform enables users to navigate Nigeria’s electoral structure from the national level down to states, local government areas, wards and individual polling units through nine dedicated API endpoints. Information is delivered in a structured format within seconds, making it useful for both technical and non-technical users.
To broaden accessibility, the developers incorporated a Swagger-based interface that allows users with no coding experience to search and explore electoral data through a standard web browser.
Omobude, who designed the platform’s technical architecture, database infrastructure and cloud-hosting environment, said the project has been developed and maintained using personal resources since March 2023.
Grant, who led product design and user experience development, described the initiative as a civic intervention intended to bridge longstanding information gaps within Nigeria’s electoral ecosystem.
For election observers and civil society organisations, access to comprehensive polling unit data has often posed significant operational challenges.
Many monitoring groups spend weeks assembling information from multiple sources before deploying field personnel.
CredibleVoteNG seeks to eliminate that burden by providing a standardised and verified dataset that can be used simultaneously by multiple organisations.
Election monitoring experts say such access is particularly important for Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT), a globally recognised methodology used to independently verify election outcomes through polling unit-level data collection and analysis.
The platform’s creators argue that a common and publicly accessible electoral dataset can improve consistency among observer groups and strengthen confidence in election monitoring efforts.
The database may also prove valuable to journalists and media organisations, enabling them to verify polling unit distributions, scrutinise electoral claims and undertake data-driven reporting on voter access and representation.
The platform further highlights variations in polling unit distribution across the country. Lagos State has 13,325 polling units, Kano 11,222 and Kaduna 8,012, while Bayelsa has 2,244 and Ekiti 2,445.
Analysts say access to such information could encourage deeper discussions around voter accessibility, electoral logistics and resource allocation.
Political parties are also expected to benefit, as accurate ward and polling unit data are essential for deploying agents, monitoring election-day activities and identifying organisational gaps during campaigns.
Although the project has attracted limited publicity since its launch in March 2026, the founders say adoption has continued to grow through referrals and online searches.
Hosted on cloud infrastructure and verified across all states and the FCT, CredibleVoteNG is increasingly being viewed by election stakeholders as a practical contribution to transparency, civic participation and electoral accountability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
As preparations intensify for another election cycle, the emergence of a citizen-built platform providing free access to one of Nigeria’s most important democratic datasets underscores the role innovation can play in advancing transparency and strengthening public trust in the electoral process.
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