NASENI’s Centre of Excellence: Building Local Capacity for High-Precision Manufacturing

For decades, Nigeria’s industrial ambitions have been constrained by a challenge that is often invisible to the ordinary citizen but well understood by manufacturers and engineers—the country’s heavy dependence on imported precision-engineered components. From the automotive industry to aerospace, healthcare, defence and energy, countless products assembled or used in Nigeria rely on high-precision parts manufactured abroad.

This dependence has not only increased production costs and prolonged supply chains but has also limited the growth of indigenous manufacturing capacity and slowed the country’s march towards industrial self-reliance.

As the Federal Government intensifies efforts to diversify the economy through industrialisation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has positioned itself as one of the institutions leading the drive to reverse this trend by investing in advanced manufacturing, local innovation and technology development.

This commitment was once again brought into focus during the recent visit of the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Mr. Tanimu Yakubu, to the NASENI Centre of Excellence (NASENI CoEx) for Precision Manufacturing, where the Agency showcased one of its most strategic investments in Nigeria’s industrial future.

NASENI boosting local capacity for precision manufacturing

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The visit offered an opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of a facility designed not merely to produce precision components but to lay the technological foundation for a new era of local manufacturing capable of supporting industries that demand the highest standards of engineering accuracy.

Receiving the Budget Office Director-General at the facility, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, said Nigeria must deliberately build its capacity to manufacture high-precision components locally if it hopes to achieve sustainable industrialisation and reduce dependence on imported technologies.

According to him, the Centre of Excellence was established under the Renewed Hope Agenda to address a long-standing gap in Nigeria’s industrial ecosystem by providing the infrastructure, technical capability and skilled manpower required for advanced manufacturing. He explained that the facility is expected to support the production of world-class precision-engineered components needed in strategic sectors such as aerospace, automotive, energy, defence and healthcare, thereby strengthening the country’s industrial competitiveness while creating opportunities for innovation and employment.

Halilu noted that countries that have emerged as global manufacturing leaders did not attain that status simply by assembling finished products. Rather, they invested heavily in developing the technical capacity to design and manufacture the precision components that form the backbone of modern industries.

He stressed that building indigenous precision manufacturing capability would not only reduce import dependence but would also conserve foreign exchange, stimulate local production, encourage technology transfer and position Nigeria as a competitive manufacturing destination within Africa.

Such investments, he said, would ultimately create high-value jobs for engineers, technicians and other skilled professionals while strengthening the country’s industrial resilience in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.

The significance of the NASENI CoEx becomes clearer when viewed against the realities of modern manufacturing. Precision manufacturing goes beyond conventional fabrication. It involves producing components to extremely accurate specifications using sophisticated technologies such as computer numerical control machining (CNC), advanced measurement systems, automation and digital manufacturing processes.

These technologies make it possible to produce parts that meet the exact standards required in aircraft systems, medical devices, industrial machinery, automobiles, renewable energy equipment and defence applications, where even the slightest variation in measurements can affect performance, safety or durability.

For many years, Nigeria’s manufacturers have depended largely on imported precision components because local facilities capable of producing them at international standards have been limited. This dependence has exposed industries to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, global supply chain disruptions and rising import costs, while also restricting the growth of domestic manufacturing capabilities. Establishing a dedicated Centre of Excellence therefore represents a strategic intervention aimed at closing that technological gap and enabling Nigerian industries to source more sophisticated components locally.

Beyond its production capacity, the NASENI CoEx reflects NASENI’s broader philosophy that industrialisation must be driven by knowledge, innovation and practical skills. Advanced manufacturing cannot thrive without a workforce equipped with the technical competencies needed to operate modern production systems, maintain sophisticated equipment and continuously improve manufacturing processes.

The facility is therefore expected to serve as a platform for capacity building, where engineers, technicians, researchers and industry professionals can acquire hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing technologies that are increasingly shaping global industrial production.

Since assuming office as Executive Vice Chairman/CEO in September 2023, Halilu has introduced a renewed focus on transforming the Agency into a commercially oriented innovation institution whose research and technological outputs translate into products that directly improve the lives of Nigerians. His leadership has emphasized stronger collaboration with the private sector, commercialisation of innovations, investment attraction, technology transfer and market-driven manufacturing solutions capable of contributing meaningfully to national economic growth.

The NASENI Centre of Excellence for Precision Manufacturing is one of the flagship initiatives reflecting this renewed direction. Rather than functioning solely as a research facility, it is designed to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and industrial application by creating an ecosystem where technology development, manufacturing and workforce training reinforce one another. Such an ecosystem is essential because industrial competitiveness today depends not only on the availability of machinery but also on continuous innovation, quality assurance, technical expertise and efficient production systems capable of meeting international standards.

The visit by the Director-General of the Budget Office also underscored the importance of sustained government investment in science and technology as critical enablers of economic transformation. Public investment in research infrastructure often serves as the foundation upon which private sector manufacturing expands. By supporting institutions such as NASENI, government creates opportunities for local industries to access technologies, engineering expertise and manufacturing capabilities that might otherwise remain beyond their reach.

Halilu expressed appreciation to Mr. Yakubu for taking time to inspect the facility and acknowledged the Budget Office’s continued interest in initiatives aimed at advancing Nigeria’s industrial development through strategic investments in science and engineering infrastructure.

Facilities such as the Centre of Excellence for Precision Manufacturing provide the physical and technical infrastructure needed to nurture a diversified industrial economy while creating opportunities for local manufacturers to upgrade their production capabilities and compete more effectively within regional and global markets.

The potential benefits extend beyond large manufacturing firms. Small and medium-scale enterprises engaged in fabrication, industrial design, machine maintenance, engineering services and component production also stand to benefit from access to advanced manufacturing technologies and technical expertise. As local supply chains become more sophisticated, opportunities are created for indigenous businesses to participate in higher-value industrial activities that generate better incomes, encourage innovation and stimulate technological learning.

Facilities such as the Centre of Excellence provide an environment where technical skills can be developed, refined and applied in real production settings, thereby strengthening the country’s human capital and preparing a new generation of professionals for the demands of advanced manufacturing.

Although challenges such as infrastructure deficits, financing constraints and global competition remain, initiatives such as the NASENI Centre of Excellence for Precision Manufacturing demonstrate that deliberate investment in science and engineering infrastructure can create the foundation upon which broader industrial transformation is built. By combining advanced manufacturing facilities with capacity development, technology transfer and product commercialisation, NASENI is contributing to a more resilient industrial ecosystem capable of supporting Nigeria’s long-term economic aspirations.

The significance of the Centre therefore extends far beyond the walls of its production facility. It represents a strategic investment in Nigeria’s ability to manufacture sophisticated products, nurture highly skilled professionals and strengthen industries that are critical to national development.

When viewed alongside the agency’s expanding initiatives in healthcare manufacturing, renewable energy, engineering infrastructure and technology commercialisation, it becomes evident that NASENI is pursuing a comprehensive approach to industrial development that places local capacity at the centre of national progress.

As Nigeria continues its journey towards economic diversification, institutions that combine innovation with practical manufacturing capability will remain indispensable. The NASENI Centre of Excellence for Precision Manufacturing stands as one such institution, reflecting a growing determination to ensure that the technologies shaping Nigeria’s future are increasingly designed, developed and manufactured by Nigerians, for Nigerians, while positioning the country to compete more confidently in the rapidly evolving global industrial landscape.

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