…Receives Chinese delegation

Rashidat Okunlade Writes

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has called on investors to collaborate with the Agency in local production and domestication of Lithium batteries among other renewable energy solutions. 

The Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI Dr, Bashir Gwandu speaking today in Abuja said the Agency was ready to partner with international companies that are willing to set up their industries in Nigeria and start local production of renewable energy solutions, electric vehicles parts, and other capital goods that could create jobs and reduce Nigeria dependence on foreign goods that exert pressure on our foreign exchange for the country.

Dr. Gwandu who disclosed this while receiving a business delegation from LEMI Technology Shenzhen, China at NASENI headquarters said that “NASENI is already doing a lot in the area of Solar Panel Production”.

He says very soon NASENI will attract solar cell manufacturing to improve synergy with its existing work on solar panel assembly.  He said the Agency has held meetings with other companies from around the world with a view to seeking partnerships on local production of lithium-based end-products in Nigeria as against the normal practice of foreign companies exporting the raw materials outside the country for processing.

According to him, taking some of the visions of NASENI forward, which are the domestication of technologies, capital goods production, and commercialization in Nigeria, NASENI would help bridge the technological gaps between Nigeria and other countries, help stop the importation of these technologies and encourage local production.

He also said NASENI will be working with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) to encourage the development and production of electric vehicles and even conversion of existing vehicles to electric vehicles as against producing from scratch. In that same regard, NASENI is also in discussion with various stakeholders on the promotion of the installation of electric vehicle charging stations on major roads across the country.

“So, we are inviting friends of Nigeria to come here and establish here. We are encouraging those who can come and produce locally. We will give them support and ensure that the investment environment is encouraging,” he said.

 The NASENI EVC hoped that this call is an opportunity for partners who want to produce in Nigeria to do so. The Federal Government, he disclosed, “would welcome any company who gets to us first”, adding that on the production of Lithium batteries, the Agency was ready to go into partnership with companies that are willing to establish their factories in Nigeria.

Dr. Gwandu suggested that NASENI and LEMI Technology should work out the areas of possible collaboration in the production of the lithium battery and ensure that all the safety and environmental regulations are followed. 

 While emphasizing NASENI’s priority area to be the production of lithium batteries and inverters, Dr. Gwandu expressed delight in working out a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LEMI Technology with a view to ensuring the safest means of producing the lithium-based batteries, taking into cognizance Nigeria environmental peculiarities.  

 The founder of LEMI Technology, Ms. Joyce Chen in her speech said the company is ready to partner with NASENI and invest in the country, promising that they look forward to a rewarding relationship with NASENI and the Nigerian government. Other members of the delegation include the Chief Investment Officer, Mr. Rocky Hu; Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Biju Yao; Oversea Business Director, Ms. Monica Liang, and Engineer Mr. Lucia Peng.

Giving details of the visit, the Chief Executive Officer of LEMI Technology Mr. Xie Feng expressed his company’s willingness to partner with NASENI through MoU on renewable energy with particular reference to products like solar and television panels, inverters, and battery production.

Dr. Bashir Gwandu, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), presenting a souvenir to Ms. Joyce Chen, Founder, LEMI Technology, China during a business delegation by a visit by the company to the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, July 17, 2023.

He said Nigeria and China have a brotherhood that spans many years, adding that Nigeria with its teeming population, is critical for investment opportunities. Mr. Feng added that LEMI Technology has been operating in the Nigerian market since 2018 and had provided job opportunities to Nigerians and has sold renewable energy products to over 200,000 Nigerian households. 

NASENI is the Nigerian-only purpose-built Agency with specific mandate in the area of capital goods research, production, and reverse engineering in the following broad areas: Engineering Materials, Industrial and Analytical Chemical Materials, Scientific Equipment and components, Engineering Equipment, Engineering Designs and Standardization, and Power Equipment.

On resumption of duty, one of the projects embarked upon by the EVC of NASENI amongst many others was to summon some of the key exporters of Lithium from within Nigeria and advised them to start thinking of inviting their off-takers in different parts of the world who manufacture lithium batteries to start planning to come and invest in the end-product production in Nigeria.

He encouraged them to take advantage of the discussion and harness the first mover advantage because those who come to invest will be assisted by NASENI through the promotion of government policy to limit the export of all types of lithium except what Nigeria cannot process to an end-product.

He emphasized that Nigeria cannot continue to export raw lithium if other countries such as Zimbabwe have gone to the extent of lithium processing. He stated that Nigeria should be at the forefront of battery production since it has all the relevant raw materials including Phosphate.

He stated that in any area where NASENI can attract manufacturers be it in renewables or other areas such as aerospace industries, any company that can come to Nigeria and process the raw elements into end-product will be supported by NASENI. Companies invited for earlier discussion on Lithium included suppliers to CATL and LEMI of China.

Today the EVC received the first delegation from LEMI of China to start a conversation on the local production of various types of lithium batteries and other products in the photovoltaics value chain.

Rashidat Okunlade Writes

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), showcased Nigeria’s Innovative IT Policy Formulation Approach at the just concluded London Blockchain Conference. NITDA led the Nigerian delegation at the conference, held from 31^st May to 2^nd June 2023 at the Queen Elizabeth II International Conference Centre, Westminster, London, United Kingdom.

Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, the Director General/CEO, represented by Dr. Usman Gambo Abdullahi, Director, Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions, participated in a panel discussion on “Blockchain Innovation Program: Changing Lives Through BSV Education”. He used the opportunity to inform the global Blockchain community of Nigeria’s innovative approaches toward ensuring nationwide adoption of the technology.

Mr. Inuwa informed that the National Blockchain Policy for Nigeria, approved by the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday 3^rd May 2023 was unveiled by Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, FCIIS, FBCS, FNCS, the former Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, on Tuesday 16^th May 2023. He further indicated that the Policy was developed to help Nigeria’s transition into the digital economy by using Blockchain technology in boosting innovation, improving public services, creating job opportunities, reducing corruption, and driving economic growth.

It may be recalled that the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria (NDEPS) was launched and unveiled by Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, the former President, in 2019. The Policy, anchored on 8 pillars, has Digital Society and Emerging Technologies as one of the pillars. NITDA, being the Policy’s key implementing Agency, crafted the Agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan, anchored on seven strategic pillars, namely Developmental Regulation, Digital Literacy, and Skills, Digital Entrepreneurship, Indigenous Content Development and Promotion, Digital Transformation, Cybersecurity, and Emerging Technologies. The implementation of the National Blockchain Policy for Nigeria, focused on three areas – talent development, innovation, and adoption – is aimed at helping Nigeria achieve, among others, improved transparency and accountability, increased efficiency, enhanced security, financial inclusion, and job creation. It will also help in boosting innovation, improve government services, drive economic growth, enhance public trust in governance, and promote citizen engagement.

Mr. Inuwa highlighted the global high demand for employable skills. With a population of over 200 Million, Nigeria accounts for about 50% of West Africa’s population. Furthermore, Nigeria has a significant brain capital and a strong comparative advantage to leverage Blockchain technology to supply highly skilled labour to the global market. It is in this regard that the Agency commissioned the National Talent Gap Assessment which resulted in the development of the National Digital Skills Strategy. The NITDA Blockchain Scholarship Scheme with Domineum Blockchain Technology Solutions as the implementing partner and BSV Blockchain Association through BSV Blockchain Academy as the content provider,  is part of the Agency’s grand plan of adding 500,000 Blockchain professionals to the talent pool, with the aim of making Nigeria a leading talent hub for Blockchain innovation and development. The first batch of the Scholarship program recorded about 92,000 applications out of which 32,000 have successfully completed the program and their certificates were issued at the launching and unveiling of the Policy.

It is exciting to note that Nigeria secured the commitment of BSV Blockchain Association through Stefan Mathews, co-Founder and Executive Chairman of the nChain Group, a global Blockchain technology and Intellectual Property holding company as well as Executive Committee member of Bitcoin Association, for subsequent batches of the program.

It may also be recalled that NITDA issued the National Blockchain Adoption Strategy in 2021, after series of engagements with ecosystem stakeholders. The Strategy focused on six initiatives, namely Establishment of Nigeria Blockchain Consortium; the Strengthening of the Regulatory and legal framework; Provision of National Digital Identity; the Promotion of Blockchain Digital Literacy and Awareness; Creation of Blockchain Business Incentive Programmes; and Establishment of a National Blockchain Sandbox for Proof of Concepts and Pilot Implementation. The National Blockchain Policy leverages the successes achieved as well as lessons learned from the implementation of the Strategy.

The Director General further reiterated NITDA’s commitment to sustaining the momentum, leveraging Blockchain technology in particular and emerging technologies in general, towards transforming Nigeria into a leading digital economy, providing quality life and economic prosperity for all.

Rashidat Okunlade Writes

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is exploring partnership and collaboration with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) on how to institutionalise Cyber Security Insurance in the country.

The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE who led the Agency’s management team to the Commission on a courtesy visit reiterated the fact that the insurance coverage is long overdue, especially as it is virtually impossible for any business to operate without connecting to the internet.

According to Inuwa, almost every adult in Nigeria moves around with “a supercomputer in his/her hand or pockets”, which invariably exposes one to cybercrimes and criminals.

While quoting some reports that the global cybercrime as of 2021 was almost $6TR and projected to grow by 15% year-on-year, the DG said that as of today the figures have increased to about $8TR and will reach $10.5 TR by 2025.

“Cybercrime, if you can quantify it as a nation, will be the third largest economy, and it is bigger than all crimes combined together, in terms of cost”.

“In view of this, we need to institutionalise Cyber Insurance because Nigeria loses about N200B to cybercrime annually, imagine that just 0.0% of the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is worth more than N200B”, Inuwa noted.

DG, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE with the Commissioner for Insurance, NAICOM, Mr. Olorundare Sunday Thomas, after the Courtesy visit.

Inuwa said, “Looking at this and the rate services are being digitised, coupled with the push for government digital services as well as COVID-19, the pace we are digitising has been accelerated; the future is therefore arriving faster than expected”.

The DG who emphasised the importance of securing the Insurance averred that whereas the commission has the primary mandate of insurance, the Agency also has certain mandates relating to cyber insurance, including the development of Information Technology in Nigeria which Cyber Security is an integral part.

The NITDA Boss expressed the hope that once the insurance is gotten, the country will be well positioned to mitigate the recurring losses, and the ecosystem as well as the quality of systems in Nigeria will be strengthened and upgraded respectively.

“Achieving this feat will also translate to strengthening developers of systems to up their game, by taking it through a series of tests before taking their products to the market”.

“Many countries have institutionalised cyber insurance, Africa inclusive; South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt have done so. Looking at our status in Africa as the largest economy and having the most vibrant digital ecosystem as well as the fastest growing digital economy, I think it is the right time for us also to institutionalise Cyber Insurance in Nigeria”, the DG maintained.

The Commissioner for Insurance/Chief Executive Officer of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Olorundare Sunday Thomas who gave a nod to the proposal brought forward by the NITDA DG, noted that he has always been talking to relevant stakeholders to look at the positive side of risks associated with technology.

“Looking at the volume of data that are driven daily, the cost associated with data, magnitude, and impact of the economy of nations, if there should be any economy that should be more concerned about cybercrime, it should be Nigeria”.

“The more we look forward to using technology to resolve many problems, we must also seize the opportunity to increase our workforce”, Thomas added.

The CFI assured the NITDA team of the Commission’s readiness to partner with the Agency towards institutionalising cyber insurance.

Both teams were unanimous in hitting the ground running as they agreed to create a committee of six members, three from each organisation to ascertain the modus operandi and fashion out the terms of reference.