Dr. Bashir Gwandu, the Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), embarked on a significant visit to the Czech Embassy in Nigeria to explore potential collaboration opportunities and gather insights about the Delta2 Project.
During his courtesy call to His Excellency Zdeněk Krejčí, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Nigeria, held at the embassy’s office in Abuja on August 18, 2023, Dr. Gwandu articulated his purpose. He expressed his intention to conduct a fact-finding mission aimed at understanding the reasons behind the setback of the Delta2 Project. Originally designed to empower Nigeria’s technology companies, entrepreneurs, and economic advancement, the project involved a bilateral partnership between the governments of Nigeria (represented by NASENI) and the Czech Republic (represented by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, TA CR). The envisioned collaboration was meant to initiate projects that would stimulate the growth of infrastructure, manufacturing, and innovation in Nigeria, ultimately leading to the creation of indigenous technologies and products under the “Made-in-Nigeria” label.
Dr. Gwandu conveyed to the ambassador that the reinvigorated administration at NASENI was fully committed to working hand in hand with the Czech government. The aim was to steer Nigeria’s industrialization agenda and attract fresh investments that would facilitate technology localization through strategic partnerships. He emphasized NASENI’s mandate, which centers on diminishing Nigeria’s reliance on imported goods and services by leveraging the nation’s inherent capabilities to bolster domestic production. This, in turn, would drive economic development and generate employment opportunities for the Nigerian population.
“We envision fostering government-to-government collaborations in our new initiatives. Our goal is to forge a mutually beneficial relationship that advances our nation’s interests. Our outreach extends to numerous companies, and we are keen to engage with Czech government and businesses. We are inviting them to establish their presence here and contribute to our drive for technological self-reliance. Our ambition is to industrialize Nigeria,” Dr. Gwandu asserted. He also mentioned NASENI’s ongoing efforts to accelerate Nigeria’s industrialization through new initiatives, and he expressed the agency’s willingness to partner with Czech companies, as well as those from other nations, interested in setting up manufacturing facilities and industrial bases within Nigeria.
In response, the Czech ambassador extended his commendation to Dr. Gwandu and his team for dedicating time to visit the embassy and inquire about the hurdles faced by the Delta2 Project. He conveyed his country’s readiness to collaborate with NASENI on scientific endeavors. “We eagerly await your novel initiatives. Our nation boasts a grant agency and a technology agency that specialize in scientific collaborations, alongside an academy of sciences, all of which can be of value to you. Furthermore, we have identified several companies and universities with a keen interest in tropical agriculture that could greatly benefit from your collaboration,” he affirmed. The ambassador underscored his country’s commitment to collaborating with NASENI in order to ensure the successful implementation of the agency’s new initiatives.
The meeting served as a platform for productive discussions between the two parties, fostering the prospects of cross-national cooperation that could contribute significantly to Nigeria’s technological advancement and economic growth.
