FG commences construction of emerging technologies institute in Kano

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By Sylvester Thompson

The Federal Government has commenced the construction of Sustainable and Emerging Technologies Institute (SETI) in Kano

The project is under the aegis of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).

Mr Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, the agency’s Director of Information, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said the institute’s ground breaking ceremony was held at the Bayero University Kano (BUK) New Campus on Friday.

He quoted Mr Khalil Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman, NASENI, as saying the new institute would sit on 30 hectares of land and would feature state-of-the-art facilities.

According to him, it would also have innovation hubs devoted to artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies, complemented by reliable power supply.

“NASENI will fully build, equip and support the new institute.

“The future of socioeconomic development for nations rests on human creativity, innovation and cooperation, artificial intelligence, robotics among others,” Halilu said.

He said SETI was a response to rapidly the waves of young people globally revolutionising world economies with unprecedented emergence of socioeconomic frontiers as by-products of innovations and ingenuities.

“We in NASENI are firm believers in the potential of young Nigerians to be the prime catalysts of the type of transformation that Nigeria requires.

“And we will do everything within our powers to support them to fulfill this important responsibility,” Halilu said.

He expressed optimism that the project would transform the lives and careers of future generations of Nigerians.

He said SETI was in line with the operating principles of NASENI which were collaboration, creation, and commercialisation (3Cs).

“I am eagerly looking forward to the day, not too long from now, when the Institute’s first set of beneficiaries will astonish the world with what they’re capable of accomplishing.

“These stories will put not just BUK on the global innovation map, but also Kano State and the entire Nigeria,” Halilu said.

Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, described the project as another way NASENI was fast-tracking the placing Nigeria on the global map of innovation and industrialisation.

The minister described the project as “ace” and a pointer to secure a veritable socioeconomic development for the nation.

Prof. Sagir Abbas, Vice-Chancellor, BUK, remarked that the new institute was a vehicle for bringing together the three critical tripods for economic and sustainable development.

Abbas also said the ground-breaking event marked the beginning of Nigeria’s journey in pursuit of sustainable development and massive job creation. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Stanley Nwanosike/Uche Anunne

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