By Dwelleth Morountodun
In what it referred to as promise kept in the evolving road map to the implementation of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria (represented by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Czech Republic (represented by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, TA CR) on Delta-2 Project, the Federal Government has inaugurated a committee to carry out the assessment of the submissions by Nigeria companies.
The assessment would ensure the successful take-off of Projects to ignite a process of fostering growth and expansion of infrastructure, manufacturing and innovation in Nigeria, leading to Made-in-Nigeria technologies and products.
Recall that NASENI and its counterpart, the Technology Agency of Czech Republic (TA has few weeks back commenced the implementation of $16.2 million technology transfer and information exchange grant, tagged Delta 2 Programme for Nigerian researchers geared towards Nigeria’s industrialization.
It is therefore heartwarming that Federal Government in its proactiveness increased its stakes by 100% bringing the entire grant to over $18 million, excited Prof. Mohammed Haruna, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI made the disclosure while briefing Science Journalists at the NASENI Headquarters in Abuja over the weekend.
According to the Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee of Transfer of Technology between Nigeria and Czech Republic (PICTT), Dr. Mohammed Dahiru, over 200 Nigeria companies so far had applied to take part in the Delta-2 project, following public call for proposal May 18,2022. He disclosed that the purpose of hoisting the federal government’s on-going technology transfer agreement with Czech Republic is to diversify the economy of Nigeria from oil.
Speaking at the official inauguration of the Committee in Abuja, the Chairman, Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on Technology/Information Exchange between Nigeria and Czech Republic, Dr. Muhammed Dahiru said the Committee’s Terms of Reference is the instrument of implementation of the MoU between the two countries which recognizes the pivotal and critical roles of the PIC and NASENI.
While inaugurating the Committee, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, who is also co-Chair of the Presidential committee recalled that President Mohammed Buhari on 30th November, 2020 inaugurated the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer/Information Exchange between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Czech Republic (PICTT), noting that the three focal areas for the First Phase of implementation by PICTT were Agricultural Equipment, Machinery, Production and Processing, Mining Equipment, Machinery, Production and Processing and General manufacturing with emphasis on micro, small, and medium enterprises.
The NASENI boss said that the Delta-2 Programme is the cooperation model of the TA CR, running from 2020-2025 through which TACR sponsors applied research and innovation of manufacturing companies and innovative institutions. “CZK 250 million (250 million Czech Koruna, approximately equal to $10.5 million) has been allocated as research fund by the Czech government on behalf of the FGN, NASENI will supplement this with $10 million.”
According to Haruna, 284 Public Proposals for Delta-2 Programme have been submitted for screening, noting that the thematic areas for proposals are Agriculture with total proposal of 78 (27.5%), Mining and SMEs, Mining 12 (4.2%) and SMEs 194 (86.3%). It could be recalled that the launch of Call for public Proposals, which is simultaneously being hosted by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TA CR) and at least eight (8) other participating countries was launched on 18th May, 2022.
“It was the first part of the project procedure/schedule on “TA CR Delta 2 Programme for Bilateral Cooperation in Applied Research and Technology Transfer for Agriculture, Mining and General Manufacturing
Haruna therefore urged the committee members to ensure that the important projects leading to Made-in-Nigeria technologies and products are selected from the companies to transform Nigeria and to jump the industrial revolution in the country.”
According to Dr. Dahiru, the inauguration of the Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on Technology Transfer/Information Exchange between The Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Czech Republic, in December 2020 was in response to the need for the implementation of an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Republic of Nigeria (represented by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI) and the Czech Republic (represented by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, TA CR). According to the PIC’s terms of reference (ToR), the Committee is expected to work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders and partners, to ignite a process of fostering growth and expansion of infrastructure, manufacturing and innovation in Nigeria.
The PICTT Work Plan 2021 – 2024, focuses on fostering infrastructural development in agriculture, mining, and general manufacturing (specifically for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises – MSMEs). In line with the focus, the following projects have been finalised and are at different stages of implementation include TA CR Delta 2 Programme for Bilateral Cooperation in Applied Research and Technology Transfer for Agriculture, Mining and General Manufacturing, Smart Irrigation Project/Establishment of Irrigation Equipment Manufacturing Plant and Valves & Fittings Manufacturing Company collaboration with Aqua Industrial set ups, establishment of Ecopanel Manufacturing Plant in collaboration with Ekopanely Czech Republic, Defence Technology Transfer Projects for the Nigerian Navy through the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic.
The chairmen of the various assessment committees are as follows: Engineer Professor Michael Faborode (Agriculture), professor Mosto Onuoha (Mining), Mr. Dike Aguonye (Technologies for SMEs Development) and Prof. Suleiman Aruwa heads the Advisory committee.
