The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Suleiman Halilu has stated that investing in human capital development and staff motivation remain the best ways of repositioning the agency as a powerhouse of science, technology, and innovation (STI) on the global scene.
In his keynote address, at the opening ceremony of a 5-day training for information, new media, and protocol staff of the agency, drawn from the headquarters and institutes, on new media and protocol strategies for a modern government agency in the 21st century, held on Monday at the Exclusive Serene Hotel, Wuye, Abuja, Halilu said that investing in staff training and development was vital for the success of any organization.
According to him, “We are building a new NASENI where one of the overarching goals is to have well-trained employees with the knowledge and requisite technical, vocational, and management skills required for the agency’s growth and technological advancement. He said this reorientation would equip us to bring to fruition the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration and also the eight priority areas of the administration.”
Buttressing the mandate of the agency, the NASENI boss noted that the agency’s mission is to drive Nigeria’s rapid industrialization through the new three Cs of collaboration, creation, and commercialization.
He added that in the past four months since he took over the leadership of NASENI, the agency has embarked on new partnerships and collaborations aimed at turning NASENI’s over 150 scientific and technological prototypes, products, and intellectual property rights (IPR) into finished products.
“We have signed multibillion-dollar new Memoranda of Understandings (MOUs) and revived old ones with international technical partners to establish coal-based fertilizer plants, lithium processing and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plants, unmanned Unmanned vehicles (UAVs) for agricultural afforestation, smart solar irrigation, tractor repairs, and crop traceability for food security,” he further explained.
He said that the 5-day intensive training programme will enable the information and protocol staff of the agency to catch up with the current trends and international standards required for mastering the intricacies of new media and protocol strategies that would take the agency to greater heights.
“We have assembled about forty-one (41) staff responsible for information and protocol activities from our headquarters and institutes to benefit from this training. This training will upskill the crop of staff to communicate our new strategy and partnerships to different audiences, he stated.
He said that he was confident that by the end of the training, the staff of the Information, Protocol, and New Media Unit would be equipped with the requisite skills to be on par with their contemporaries in the public and private sectors, as well as those in the international sphere.
The Coordinating Director, Engineering Infrastructure, Prof. Bagudu Dansheu Gwadangaji who was ably represented by Engr. Dr. Olayode Olasupo urged the Information Staff to adapt to new media and protocol strategies to ensure the continued success and relevance of NASENI.
Encouraging the participants, he said, “Your presence at this training signifies not only personal and professional growth but also a collective effort to enhance our capabilities as a forward-thinking government agency.”
“I encourage you to actively engage in the sessions, collaborate with your peers, and absorb the wealth of knowledge that this training has to offer. He said the insights gained here will understandably contribute to your skills, allowing you to make valuable contributions to our ICT initiatives.
Also, the Coordinating Director, Science Infrastructure, Prof Umar Ibrahim Gaya stated that the theme of the training was timely as it would equip participants with the necessary skills and tools to combat fake news, which can affect organizations negatively.
“When you talk about NASENI, so many things come to mind. As an agency with a first-line charge from the Federation Account, there is likely to be fake news out there about us. Therefore, this training will help equip the participants to separate information from misinformation and misrepresentation. We hope your deliberations will help the EVC/CEO and management achieve the agency’s mandate. Prof. Gaya added.
In his welcome address, the Director of Information, Protocol, and New Media Unit, Mr. Segun Ayeoyenikan commended the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of NASENI, Khalil Halilu for making staff motivation, development, and productivity top priorities in his agenda since he assumed the position as EVC/CEO barely four months ago.
He said that in an era defined by rapid advancement, training was a crucial step towards navigating the complexities of digital age, adding that the new slogan in the media profession and business world is “You either communicate or you are easily forgotten, because of the complexities or sophistication of the society wherein we live today.”
Throwing more light on the training, he said the training for the communication and media arm of the agency, the first of its kind in 33 years, was indeed timely with the wave of reforms currently sweeping across the agency with the coming on board of a techpreneur, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu.
“The Information, New Media, and Protocol Department plays a critical role in projecting the image, products, mission, and vision of the agency amongst its technology end-users and critical stakeholders,” he said.
“The EVC/CEO has committed to building a 21st century institution built on the 3 core principles of collaboration, creation, and commercialization guided by a strategic corporate plan that ensures that NASENI’s human and material resources are optimally harnessed with a view to achieving the Federal Government’s industrialization drive.
While welcoming the participants to the training, he pointed out that the training marked the beginning of a journey towards an enhanced popularization of digital skills communication and knowledge sharing within the NASENI Headquarters and Institutes’ Information and Protocol more effectively.
Pointing out that the knowledge acquired from this training promised to reposition NASENI into one of the foremost agencies of the Federal Government, he called on all the participants to see the training as a call to duty and to ensure use of the opportunity and strive for excellence.