Commercializing research vital for agricultural transformation

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has reiterated that turning research findings into marketable products is crucial for achieving Nigeria's desired agricultural and economic growth.

Speaking at the North-Central Sensitization Programme for the NASENI Research Commercialization Grant Programme (NRCGP) on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, in Abuja, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and CEO, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, emphasized the need to overcome the financial and administrative roadblocks that often derail promising agricultural and engineering research.

The EVC, represented by NASENI’s Research Director, Prof. Abdulmalik Ibrahim Onuwe, stated that the NRCGP is specifically designed to support viable Research and Development (R&D) initiatives that can feed into the nation's productive sectors, aligning with NASENI’s core mandate.

He highlighted that the application process for the grant is entirely digitalized and transparent, eliminating the need for physical presence or lengthy administrative procedures.

"This sensitization is to empower prospective researchers, including those from agricultural and technical institutes, who seek guidance about the programme," Halilu noted.Participants at the session included key stakeholders from universities, the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NSRDA).

The EVC urged these groups to leverage NASENI’s initiatives to foster innovation and collaboration, particularly in developing technologies that can boost farm yields and agro-processing.

Engr. Dr. Anas Balarabe Yazid, the Programme Coordinator and Special Adviser to the EVC on Science and Engineering Commercialisation, provided an overview of the NRCGP, detailing the objectives and eligibility criteria.

He stressed that the grant strongly aligns with NASENI’s mandate to promote local content, radically prioritizing the Creation, Collaboration, and Commercialisation (3Cs) principle.

"Every research project must be novel, clear, market-viable, and align with NASENI’s transformation agenda and Nigeria’s broader development goals," Dr. Yazid said, implicitly emphasizing projects that could modernize the agricultural value chain.

Deputy Director of Planning and Policy Analysis, Ms. Joy Elugbe, concluded the event by encouraging researchers to view NASENI’s initiatives as a vital pathway to national progress, particularly in strengthening the agricultural sector's contribution to the economy.