President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, announced the establishment of the National Engineering and Innovation Fund (NEIF) to accelerate the provision of grants and resources to engineers and technologists working to solve Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges.
Speaking in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Engineering Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the president stated that the fund aims to support local innovations and ensure that Nigeria remains at the forefront of engineering advancement in Africa.
The event which was themed: “Sustainable Engineering Solutions to Food Security and Climate Change,” he said, could not be more relevant, given that engineering sits at the heart of progress in today’s world.
Besides, the president who was represented by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, noted that through partnership with educational institutions and private sector stakeholders, the federal government was working to enhance technical training to improve engineering curriculum, and provide hands-on experience.
“We are also committed to supporting Nigerian engineers by creating an environment that fosters innovation. I am proud to announce the establishment of the National Engineering and Innovation Fund (NEIF).
“This is a new initiative designed to provide grants and resources to engineers and technologists working on solutions for Nigeria’s unique challenges.
“With this fund, we aim to support local innovations, encourage entrepreneurship, and ensure that Nigeria remains at the forefront of engineering advancement in Africa as well as strengthening regulations and standards,” Tinubu said.
The president said his administration recognises the importance of upholding and enforcing stringent standards across all engineering projects, promising to work closely with the NSE and other regulatory bodies to ensure that only licensed, qualified professionals are entrusted with critical national projects.
Describing engineers as not just builders, but problem solvers, creators, and the architects of the future, Tinubu pointed out that Nigeria was fortunate to have some of the finest engineers.
“One of the foremost priorities of our administration is to build and maintain resilient infrastructure that meets the demands of our growing population and a dynamic economy.
“We cannot achieve our vision for Nigeria without roads that connect communities, bridges that stand the test of time, and facilities that support industries.
“To this end, our government is committed to significantly increasing investment in infrastructure projects, not only in urban city centres, but also in rural communities that are often overlooked. But infrastructure is the only piece of the puzzle for our mission to thrive.
“We need a robust industrial sector that competes on a global scale. We are implementing policies that encourage industrialisation, support local manufacturing, and create opportunities for engineers to innovate and thrive. Promoting sustainable energy solutions,” he added.
CR: Arise News
