The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has announced that the first Made-in-Nigeria helicopter is nearing completion and will soon take its maiden flight.

Speaking at a Focus Group Engagement in Kaduna, Engr. Kareem Aduagba, Project Manager at NASENI?s Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute, confirmed that significant progress had been made on the indigenous helicopter which would soon be officially recognized as the ?Nigerian Chopper.?

The engagement session, organized by NASENI, brought together inventors, manufacturers, government officials, industry leaders, and academics to promote local innovation and discuss policies that will drive Nigeria?s industrial and technological advancement.

?What we are doing now is not reinventing the wheel. We have one of our projects that started from the ground up, including the Made-in-Nigeria helicopter and some Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs),? Aduagba explained.

?Additionally, we have acquired some aircraft components from developed countries in Semi Knock Down (SKD) and Complete Knock Down (CKD) forms. Using scientific and engineering expertise, we are working on assembling and modifying them.

?Very soon, we will conduct the first test flight of the Made-in-Nigeria helicopter as we approach the final stages of development,? he added.

Also speaking at the event, Engr. Abdulfatai Ambali, Head of the Manufacturing Services Department at NASENI?s Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute, Kano, emphasized the agency?s renewed commitment to commercialization, collaboration, and innovation under its current leadership.

?Many Nigerians are unaware of NASENI?s contributions, but with the leadership of the Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Suleman Halilu, we are prioritizing awareness, stakeholder engagement, and community impact.

?Our goal is to develop homegrown technology that reduces Nigeria?s reliance on foreign products. Many of our innovations are already being deployed across various sectors,? Ambali stated.

Facilitator of the program, Saleh Kwaru, urged Nigerians to support local industries, stressing that national development depends on patronizing homegrown products.

We must look inward and leverage our resources. Constant reliance on foreign products weakens our economy,? he noted.

Similarly, Yusuf Suleman, Acting Zonal Coordinator for the North West Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), commended the event for tackling challenges affecting locally made products, such as quality and finishing.

?Innovation and modern technology are key to improving the acceptance of Nigerian products. This kind of engagement will help solve production challenges and create more job opportunities.

?SMEDAN and NASENI share common goals, including marketing, technological advancement, and job creation, ensuring sustainable industrial growth,? Suleman added. (Vanguard)

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