FG Decries Low Patronage of Nigerian-Made Products, Pushes for Indigenous Innovation
The Federal Government, through the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has expressed deep concern over the low patronage of Nigerian-made products, warning that it undermines national development and job creation.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday in Akure, Ondo State, NASENI’s Deputy Director of Engineering, Mr. Joseph Alasoluyi, said most Nigerians still favour foreign-made goods despite ongoing efforts to boost local innovation and manufacturing.
He identified public perception, affordability, and poor commercialization of research as major barriers affecting the acceptance of locally made products.
“Nigerians prefer imported goods, but we are working to change that,” Alasoluyi stated. “We’ve trained over 50 individuals in the art of handmade production to promote our local products.”
NASENI’s Commitment to Local Innovation
Alasoluyi emphasized that NASENI was established to promote science, engineering, and technology as the backbone of Nigeria’s industrial and economic transformation. With 12 institutes across the country, NASENI continues to drive innovation in sectors like energy, agriculture, and ICT.
He highlighted the strategic focus of NASENI on the ‘3 Cs’: Creation, Collaboration, and Commercialisation, explaining how this framework is used to turn research into real economic impact.
Among the agency’s achievements are:
- Solar-powered irrigation systems
- CNG vehicle conversion centres
- Block-making machines with 1,000-blocks/hour capacity
- Locally produced laptops and 10-inch tablets
- Electric tricycles (Keke Napep) set for public launch
“We are integrating indigenous technologies to manufacture practical solutions within available resources,” Alasoluyi said. “This is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of using local innovation to create jobs and reduce imports.”
Research-Industry Gap Hampers Progress
Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Samuel Oluyamo, criticised the Federal Government for inadequate funding of university research. He noted that many promising innovations never make it to the market due to lack of commercial support and poor infrastructure.
“Until we upscale research into mass production, technological growth will remain a mirage,” Oluyamo said. “The government must show serious interest in funding and linking research outputs with industrial application.”
He acknowledged TETFund for playing a crucial role in bridging the research gap but called for broader, long-term support to make Nigeria self-reliant technologically.
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FG Decries Low Patronage of Nigerian-Made Products, Pushes for Indigenous Innovation