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Gbajabiamila Commends NASENI’s Technological Advancements, Product Innovations
Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has commended the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) for its technological advancements, product innovations and interventions in various sectors of the economy.
L-R: Director of Information, NASENI, Mr. Segun Ayeoyenikan; Coordinator Director, Planning and Business Development, NASENI, Mrs. Nonye Onyechi; Permanent Secretary, State House, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi; EVC/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu; Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, CFR; Deputy Chief of Staff, Senator Ibrahim Hadeija; and other officials and management staff during a familiarisation visit to National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
Gbajabiamila took time to test drive NASENI’s electric vehicle pick-up van and visited NASENI Hatch Box, Innovation Hub, Solar Irrigation Pump, and was shown new products such as Home Solar, Prepaid Meter, Laptop, Smartphone, Battery among others.
The visit was part of the engagements with agencies of government under the supervision of the Presidency to understand their mandates, activities and challenges and how they are aligning with the present administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking after an inspection tour of NASENI Complex in Idu Industrial Area, and also witnessing first-hand the new projects and products embarked on by the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu since assuming office in September 2023, Gbajabiamila thanked the EVC and Management for their warm reception.
He said, “I am glad I embarked on this trip. I am glad we are all here to see for ourselves where NASENI is and what it is doing. The whole idea behind this trip was actually to come and hear first-hand, and to see onsite what you are doing, how you are doing it, what the challenges are and so on and so forth.
“That way we could get a grip of what needs to be done, whether there are lacunas here and there. I am glad you have demonstrated what you are doing and how you are doing it. I am even happier that there are no challenges from what you said. Quite honestly I am very impressed with what we have seen and heard,” he said.
The Chief of Staff to the President stated that, that the impacts of Mr. Halilu have translated into lots of products in a matter of 11 months speak lots of volumes about his commitments, dedication and passion for what he is doing. “So, I commend you and the rest of the team,” he added.
Furthermore, he noted that we are in a technology-driven age and NASENI is one of the agencies of government that are key to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to put Nigeria among the comity of nations in terms of advancements in science and technology.
“I believe we have what it takes as a country, not just material resources but more importantly human resources”, adding that “people who are sharp, smart, young men and women in this country exist who can deliver in terms of advancement of our technology. I thank you very much for what you are doing”
Earlier, the EVC of NASENI took time to explain to the Chief of Staff the various innovations, interventions and partnerships which the Agency has embarked on in the last few months to advance technology transfer and align the NASENI’s mandate with President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Your Excellency, under your guidance and the leadership of His Excellency, President Tinubu, we have embarked on a transformative journey. This journey is characterized by an accelerated push towards technological independence and industrial growth.
“It is through your endless support and that of your team that we have been able to make significant strides in achieving these goals, Halilu added.
The Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN) and the Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) have enjoined banks to further deepen and prioritize financial inclusion, women’s empowerment and sustained growth through strategic mandates and frameworks, aimed at closing the financial gap and empowering more small, and medium enterprise (MSME) owners.
Both organisations made this call during a courtesy visit to the newly invested 24th President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Dele Alabi, Ph.D, FCIB, as part of plans to congratulate him on his investiture as well as seek a stronger alliance between both bodies.
The visit followed Alabi’s investiture where he unveiled his “IMPACT” Vision, themed “Consolidating Our Local Impact, Enhancing Our Global Relevance.”
The vision rests on six pillars: Inclusion across geographic, gender, and generational lines; Membership growth and quality; Professionalism and ethics; Accountability; Competencies and skills development; Technology, automation, and innovation. Other areas of shared interest, include women empowerment, financial inclusion and literacy, as well as MSME clinics, all of which are top on his agenda.
Alabi explained that under him, the institute will be prioritising financial inclusion and women empowerment, because of its realisation that women are often the primary financial managers and caregivers in families. Access to savings, micro-credit, and insurance acts as a safety net during crisis and allows them to significantly improve living conditions.
He added that CIBN would be happy to drive joint knowledge sharing and exchange sessions with CBN and ACAMB across various platforms. “Educating the public through public awareness programmes, with ACAMB as the rallying point, is central to what we do,” he noted.
ACAMB President, Jide Sipe, who led the delegation, spoke in unison with the CIBN president, as he noted that, closing the inbalances in financial access help economies grow faster, reduces inequality, and encourages greater civic participation by all.
Lagos State has become the first sub-national government in Nigeria to establish a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Registry, a move aimed at strengthening climate governance, improving emissions accountability and accelerating the state’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The Lagos State Greenhouse Gas Registry (LGHGR) was unveiled at the Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, at a ceremony attended by Prof. Akin Abayomi, commissioner for Health, members of the State Executive Council, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, development partners, TPHG Technologies, the diplomatic and business communities, academics, civil society organisations and the media.
Describing the initiative as a landmark achievement in the state’s environmental sustainability drive, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, general manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), said the Registry marks a defining moment in Lagos’ climate action journey and reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to building a resilient, climate-smart and environmentally sustainable economy.
According to Ajayi, the digital platform will enable the state to accurately measure, monitor, report and verify greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors, providing credible data to guide environmental policies and climate interventions.
He said the Registry would strengthen evidence-based decision-making, improve transparency and accountability, support national and international climate reporting obligations, unlock carbon market opportunities and boost investor confidence in Lagos’ environmental initiatives.
Ajayi also commended TPHG Technologies for providing the technical expertise that made the pioneering project possible.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Abayomi described the Registry as a major milestone that positions Lagos at the forefront of climate governance and emissions accountability in both Nigeria and Africa.
He noted that climate change has evolved into a significant public health and governance challenge, stressing that access to reliable emissions data would enable the state to formulate evidence-based policies, attract climate financing, strengthen resilience and accelerate its transition to a low-carbon economy.
Providing insights into the technical framework of the project, Dr. Mofoluso Fagbeja, lead consultant and chief executive officer, TPHG Technologies, explained that the Registry was developed from the greenhouse gas inventory jointly undertaken by LASEPA and TPHG Technologies in 2022, using 2019 as the baseline year for emissions assessment.
He said the platform is designed to close critical emissions data gaps, particularly within the industrial sector, while supporting effective climate policy implementation, emissions management and sustainable development.
Fagbeja also disclosed that the greenhouse gas inventory estimated that poor air quality contributes to about 35,000 premature deaths annually in Lagos, underscoring the urgent need for stronger emissions control measures and cleaner environmental practices.
In a goodwill message, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, minister of Environment, represented by Mrs. Adenaike Olunimpe Oludunni, federal controller of Environment in Lagos, commended Lagos State for pioneering the initiative, describing it as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s climate commitments.
He said the Registry aligns with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and supports the Federal Government’s Energy Transition Plan, while reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to deeper collaboration with Lagos State on climate governance and environmental sustainability.
A recently released Henley Passport Index 2026, showed that Nigerian citizens can travel to at least 20 destinations outside the African continent where entry is allowed either visa-free, with a visa on arrival (VOA) at no extra cost, or via an e-visa.
This expanded access opens doors for Nigerian travellers to experience countries in the Caribbean, Asia, and beyond with greater ease.
Below is a comprehensive guide to countries outside Africa which Nigerian passport holders can visit without a traditional visa.
Visa-Free Countries outside Africa for Nigerian Passport Holders:
Barbados
Cambodia – Visa on arrival
Comoros Islands – Visa on arrival
Cook Islands
Dominica
Fiji
Haiti
Iran – Visa on arrival
Kiribati
Lebanon
Maldives – Visa on arrival
Micronesia
Montserrat
Niue – Visa on arrival
Palau Islands – Visa on arrival
Samoa – Visa on arrival
St. Kitts and Nevis
Timor-Leste – Visa on arrival
Tuvalu
Vanuatuul
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