President Bola Tinubu has announced the establishment of the National Engineering and Innovation Fund (NEIF) to drive engineering innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria. The announcement was made during the 2024 International Engineering Conference, Exhibition, and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) held in Abuja.
Represented by the minister of state for works, Mr. Bello Goronyo, Tinubu emphasised the theme of the conference: “Sustainable Engineering Solutions to Food Security and Climate Change,” highlighting the pivotal role of engineering in tackling Nigeria’s pressing challenges.
“I am proud to announce the establishment of the National Engineering and Innovation Fund. This initiative is designed to provide grants and resources to engineers and technologists working on solutions tailored to Nigeria’s unique challenges,” Tinubu stated.
The president noted that the fund aims to bolster local innovation, encourage entrepreneurship, and position Nigeria as a leader in engineering advancements across Africa. He also stressed the importance of strengthening regulations and standards to ensure quality and safety in engineering practices, pledging close collaboration with the NSE and other regulatory bodies to entrust critical projects only to licensed and qualified professionals.
Tinubu encouraged the engineering community to explore renewable energy options, such as solar and wind, to provide Nigerians with reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions.
Minister of agriculture and food security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, praised the NSE for its dedication to agricultural development. He stressed the importance of innovative engineering solutions to address Nigeria’s food security challenges and climate resilience.
“Nigeria’s food security faces critical challenges that demand engineering tools such as emerging technologies, innovative concepts, reduced post-harvest losses, and increased mechanisation for greater productivity,” Kyari said.
He urged engineers to design affordable and adaptable machinery tailored to Nigeria’s unique crops and terrains while developing sustainable storage facilities and processing technologies for rural communities. He also emphasised the transformative potential of renewable energy systems like solar and biogas for powering irrigation, processing, and storage in off-grid areas.
Kyari reaffirmed the federal government’s readiness to collaborate on legislation to promote sustainable engineering solutions and foster an enabling environment for innovation in agriculture.
Mrs. Margaret Oguntala, President/Chairman-in-Council of the NSE, described the conference theme as a rallying call for engineers to act as problem-solvers and innovators.
“Food insecurity, worsened by climate change, disrupts agricultural productivity and threatens livelihoods. Engineers have the tools to pioneer sustainable solutions, from precision agriculture and renewable energy for rural communities to climate-adapted infrastructure,” Oguntala stated.
She urged engineers to embrace their role as architects of progress, adding, “Together, we can secure a sustainable future. As engineers, our work is the blueprint of progress. Let us build a future where no Nigerian goes hungry, and every community thrives sustainably.”
Oguntala assured the public of NSE’s commitment to collaborating with the government and regulatory bodies to ensure critical national projects are managed by qualified professionals
