COP28: NASENI EVC, Halilu To Speak On Homegrown Technologies For Rural Electrification In Dubai

The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), National Agencyfor Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Haliluis set to detail the Agency’s plans and strategies for rural electrification inNigeria using homegrown technologies.

The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, though officially openedtoday, 30th November 2023, also known as Conference of the Parties (COP28),holding at the Expo City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) will see Mr. Halilu onDecember 3rd, 2023, to deliver opening remarks and also participate at a panel session titled ‘Advancing Sustainable RuralElectrification through Homegrown Technologies’

The COP28 also referred to as the UN Framework Convention on ClimateChange Conference (UNFCCC) will hold from November 30 to December 12,2023, and is intended for governments to agree on policies to limit globaltemperature rises and adapt to impacts associated with climate change.

The event will be graced by Presidents and Heads of State, government officials, business leaders, investors,development partners, civil society organizations, academics and media.

Halilu, NASENI’s EVC/CEO during the panel session, to be moderated by Al AminIdris, CEO of Interface Africa, will speak alongside Gunther Beger, ManagingDirector of the Directorate for SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation,UNIDO; Gov Mohammed Umar Bago, Governor of Niger State, Nigeria; and MiklósVeszprémi, Climate & Sustainability Expert Consultant at Boston ConsultingGroup (BCG).

The NASENI boss is expected to discuss the roles which NASENI currently isplaying, back home, to promote development and adoption of homegrowntechnologies for rural electrification in Nigeria as well as other initiativesundertaken to advance sustainable rural electrification in the country.

Mr. Halilu since assumption of office in September 2023 has made sustainablerural electrification via renewable energies one of his key priorities, havingembarked on partnership commitments with government agencies and companies suchas Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL) toensure rural communities are provided with affordable renewable energysolutions and also homes. This is being accomplished through provision of fundtoward research and development, facilitating technology transfer, and supportfor commercialization of innovative solutions.

In September, NASENI and REA agreed to work together to deploy NASENI solarresources and other renewable energy technologies to increase electricitysupply to Nigeria’s rural areas. Also in November, the Family Homes FundsLimited signed an MoU with the Agency to promote modern and sustainablebuilding designs for affordable housing across Nigeria. According to NASENI’sEVC during the MoU signing event with FHFL, he said “the Agency will contributetoward reducing the cost of building materials so that Nigerians can build, ownhomes and to deploy affordable solar energy solutions”

Family Homes Funds Ltd is a limited liability company owned by the federalgovernment of Nigeria and represented by the Federal Ministry of Finance andthe Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

*More About NASENI*
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure(NASENI) was established in 1992 by the Federal Government of Nigeriawith the mandate specifically in the area of capital goods research,production, and reverse engineering.

NASENI broad areas of operation covers: Engineering Materials, Industrial andAnalytical Chemical Materials, Scientific Equipment and components, EngineeringEquipment, Engineering Designs and Standardization, Power Equipment, ElectricalElectronics and Engineering Materials development, etc. NASENI operatesmainly through her Development Institutes, each of the Institutes has a uniquemandate of Engineering Infrastructural development and production systems. Atpresent, there are Ten (10) functional Development Institutes and ten emergingInstitutes spread across Nigeria.

The Agency has undertaken several initiatives to advance sustainable ruralelectrification in Nigeria, including establishing the Rural ElectrificationInnovation Hub, providing grants to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),developing renewable energy solutions, and collaboration with internationalpartners to share best practices.

NASENI’s intervention in the energy sector of Nigeria economy also includesestablishment of pioneering projects like local manufacturing of Solar panelsin Nigeria (being First of its kind since 2011). NASENI Solar Energy Limitedlocated at Karshi, FCT Abuja is wholly involved in production of solar panels,batteries and other appliances. The Agency has local capacity for design andmanufacturing of Small Hydro Power (SHP) turbines and installation. It is alsoinvolved in the design locally and production of Pole Mounted Transformers andwind turbines, etc., all of which will boost the power situation in the countryespecially in rural areas. NASENI also produces energy saving bulbs through oneof its Institutes-Electronic Development Institute (ELDI) Awka, Anambra State.