The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has announced that Nigeria’s first made-in-Nigeria helicopter is close to completion. Kareem Aduagba, project manager at NASENI’s Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute, made the announcement during a focus group engagement held in Kaduna. The event, which brought together innovators, manufacturers, and government officials, aimed to foster local manufacturing, innovation, and the adoption of homegrown products.
Aduagba revealed that the helicopter is nearing its first test flight and that NASENI is leveraging science and engineering knowledge to advance the project. He emphasized that the project is not about reinventing the wheel but using existing knowledge to improve and assemble helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from semi-knockdown (SKD) and complete knockdown (CKD) kits sourced from developed countries.
NASENI’s renewed focus under its current leadership also highlights its commitment to commercialization, collaboration, and community impact. Abdulfatai Ambali, head of the Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute, stressed that the agency’s work is crucial in reducing Nigeria’s dependency on foreign products by developing and deploying homegrown technologies in various sectors.
Saleh Kwaru, a program facilitator, urged Nigerians to support local industries to strengthen the economy, stressing that continued reliance on foreign products weakens national growth.
