By Peter Omopo | September 13, 2025
The Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Halilu, has said that innovation remains Africa’s strongest tool for tackling poverty, driving job creation, and achieving long-term prosperity.
In a statement on Friday, Halilu stressed that countries that deliberately invest in research, technology, and creativity will not only reduce hardship but also unlock opportunities that place the continent on a competitive global footing.
His remarks came against the backdrop of President Bola Tinubu’s call for alternative and innovative solutions to accelerate economic growth, enhance competitiveness, and create opportunities for Nigerians.
To advance this mandate, Halilu announced the launch of a fresh selection process for Nigerian researchers and innovators under NASENI’s DELTA-2 Programme, a bilateral collaboration with the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic. The programme targets proposals in critical sectors such as mining, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, science, and engineering.
He explained that the first round of DELTA-2, launched in 2022, had already supported 12 Nigerian innovators with grants to scale up enterprises in areas like renewable energy, advanced materials, and agricultural technologies.
“When I assumed office as Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, one of my earliest priorities was to continue and strengthen this programme, which had faced years of neglect. Today, we can point to beneficiaries whose projects are solving real problems, creating jobs, and delivering products and services that meet the needs of our people,” Halilu said.
He noted that DELTA-2 aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of food security, energy transition, industrialisation, and job creation.
Halilu further projected that Africa’s transition to a green economy could generate 3.3 million jobs by 2030, especially in renewable energy, manufacturing, and e-mobility.
He urged Nigerian researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the programme, emphasising that it prioritises practical results.
“This is not research for the sake of research. It is research with purpose — bridging the gap between the laboratory and the marketplace, between ideas and impact. For Nigeria and Africa, innovation must remain the engine powering inclusive growth and sustainable prosperity,” he added.
