In a move aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s future socio-economic landscape, the Federal Government, through the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has broken ground for the construction of the Sustainable & Emerging Technologies Institute (SETI) at Bayero University Kano (BUK).
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Friday, February 14, 2025, signifies a major step in the government’s commitment to securing the well-being of future generations. NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, emphasized that the 30-hectare institute will feature cutting-edge facilities, including innovation hubs dedicated to Artificial Intelligence and other advanced technologies, along with a reliable power supply. NASENI will be responsible for the institute’s construction, equipping, and ongoing support.
Halilu highlighted the crucial role of human creativity, innovation, and cooperation in national socio-economic development, particularly in fields like artificial intelligence and robotics. He stressed NASENI’s belief in the potential of young Nigerians to drive transformative change and the agency’s commitment to supporting them. “We are gathered here today to kickstart a project that will transform the lives and careers of future generations of young Nigerians,” Halilu stated, aligning the project with NASENI’s principles of Collaboration, Creation, and Commercialization, and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
SETI aims to cultivate innovators, technologists, and entrepreneurs who will make significant contributions both in Nigeria and globally. Halilu expressed his anticipation for the institute’s first graduates and their future achievements.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, who served as the Special Guest of Honour at the ceremony, lauded the project as a vital step in placing Nigeria on the global innovation and industrialization map, calling it an “ace project” that will secure the nation’s socio-economic future.
BUK’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, described SETI as a crucial link between government, academia, and industry, the three pillars of sustainable development. He hailed the groundbreaking as the beginning of Nigeria’s journey towards sustainable development and youth job creation, expressing BUK’s delight in hosting the initiative.
In addition to SETI, NASENI is also developing an Agri-preneurship Training Hub at BUK’s old campus. This hub, spanning 10 hectares, will be equipped with modern greenhouses and facilities for soil-less farming and tissue culture.
NASENI expressed gratitude to the Kano State government and people, BUK’s management and students, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, the National Assembly, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their support.