In a significant move to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application, the Vice-Chancellor of Wigwe University, Professor Marwan Al-Akaidi, recently paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu.
The meeting, held at the NASENI headquarters, centered on fostering a robust partnership aimed at revolutionizing Nigeria’s agricultural sector, dairy innovation, and water infrastructure through a sustainable Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework. This engagement underscores Professor Al-Akaidi’s ongoing national agenda to integrate applied research with industrial growth, building on prior strategic dialogues with key national agencies.
During the discussion, EVC Khalil Halilu reaffirmed NASENI’s commitment to transforming traditional research into tangible commercial products under his signature “3Cs” framework: Create, Collaborate, and Commercialize. Highlighting the agency’s success in attracting over $2 billion in investments through its investment-driven approach, Halilu emphasized that NASENI’s priority is to de-risk projects by partnering with stakeholders who are willing to share investment risks.
He noted that the agency is moving away from purely theoretical research toward practical deployment, ensuring that innovations directly impact the Nigerian economy and enhance local production capabilities.
Professor Marwan Al-Akaidi presented a compelling vision for Wigwe University’s role in this industrial revolution, specifically targeting the untapped potential of Nigeria’s livestock sector. He pointed out the stark productivity gap in the nation’s dairy industry, where Nigerian cows produce significantly less milk compared to international benchmarks. To address this, he proposed advanced research into innovative feeds and AI-driven livestock management. Furthermore, the Vice-Chancellor highlighted Wigwe University’s ready-to-use assets, including vast land for pilot projects and premium water infrastructure, which present immediate opportunities for multi-million-naira commercial ventures and locally impactful initiatives.
The partnership found immediate synergy in NASENI’s ongoing “class-to-workshop” model, which seeks to ensure that classroom innovations are practically deployed in industrial settings. The EVC noted that Wigwe University’s proposals align perfectly with NASENI’s existing commercialization efforts, such as the milk project in Adamawa State and collaborations with other leading Nigerian universities. The two leaders discussed the potential for North-South complementary pilot projects, leveraging the unique assets of Wigwe University in the south alongside NASENI’s established frameworks in the north to create a balanced national impact.
As a roadmap for the collaboration, both institutions agreed on several immediate next steps, including the appointment of project leads to coordinate joint initiatives and facilitate knowledge sharing. A key highlight of the upcoming schedule is an official site visit by the EVC to Wigwe University to assess feasibility and witness the institution’s readiness firsthand. This partnership marks a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s educational and industrial landscapes, signaling a future where academic excellence and engineering infrastructure work hand-in-hand to drive national prosperity.