Local Products, Global Neglect: Tinubu Administration Raises Alarm Over Low Patronage”

A federal government agency, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has voiced concern over the low patronage of Nigerian-made products among citizens.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on Thursday in Akure, Ondo State, NASENI’s Deputy Director of Engineering, Joseph Alasoluyi, highlighted issues such as affordability and negative public perception as key reasons Nigerians often choose foreign goods over local alternatives.

Despite these challenges, Alasoluyi revealed that NASENI has already trained over 50 individuals in the craft of handmade production as part of its efforts to boost the appeal and acceptance of homegrown products.

He further explained that NASENI’s mission is to promote science, technology, and engineering for national development, currently operating 12 research institutes across Nigeria. According to him, President Bola Tinubu, who chairs NASENI, is committed to increasing the production and consumption of local goods, with a focus on job creation.

Alasoluyi stated, “This initiative is about leveraging indigenous technologies to manufacture locally made products. NASENI is dedicated to ensuring that homegrown innovation is actively supported and utilized.”

He emphasized the agency’s guiding strategy, referred to as the “3 Cs”:

• Creation of innovations through research,

• Collaboration with stakeholders to develop viable products,

• Commercialisation to bring these solutions to market and grow the economy.

Among NASENI’s notable achievements are:

• Solar-powered irrigation systems,

• CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) conversion centres,

• Block-making machines with a capacity of 1,000 blocks per hour,

• 10-inch tablets,

• Locally produced laptops, and

• Electric tricycles (Keke Napep) set to launch soon.

In a related remark, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Samuel Oluyamo, criticised the federal government for insufficient funding of university research, a move he said hampers innovation and scientific progress.