…As EVC/CE Craves Support of Governors’ Forum for Agency
Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Governor of Osun State, has expressed keen interest in the ongoing Skill Acquisition Training and Youth Empowerment Programme conducted by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI). Governor Adeleke, during a visit to the NASENI headquarters in Abuja, also urged the agency’s management to expedite the establishment of the proposed Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (AMEDI) in Osun State.
The Federal Government had previously approved the establishment of six Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Development Institutes across Nigeria, with one designated for each geopolitical zone. Osun State, located in the South-West, was chosen as the host state for one of these institutes.
Governor Adeleke expressed his state’s readiness to participate in the AMEDI project and emphasized the importance of NASENI’s support and partnership for the overall development of Osun State. To demonstrate his commitment, the governor revealed that he had already approved a piece of land in Oshogbo for the development of AMEDI.
During his visit, Governor Adeleke stated, “We are ready for action not only on the establishment of AMEDI but also the establishment of a technology industrial park in Osun State. We will also welcome NASENI’s services and products in our state. My requests are many, so I recommend that both NASENI and Osun State work out a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between your agency and my state.”
In response, Dr. Bashir Gwandu, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, expressed his gratitude to Governor Adeleke for being the first state governor to visit him since assuming office in May 2023. Dr. Gwandu appreciated the governor for allocating land and issuing a Certificate of Occupancy for the NASENI Institute in Osun State without any charges.
Dr. Gwandu highlighted NASENI’s potential contributions to the country’s development and explained his vision for the agency, which involved introducing new strategies and competing globally with technological products. He also took the opportunity to seek the support of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum in funding NASENI, emphasizing the agency’s mandate to create job opportunities and ensure economic well-being at the state level.
