First made-in-Nigeria helicopter almost ready to fly —NASENI

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has said that engineering work on the first Made-in-Nigeria Helicopter is almost completed to enable Nigeria to have its first self-made chopper.

The Project Manager of NASENI’s Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute, Kaduna, Engr. Kareem Aduagba, disclosed this during a Focus Group Engagement in Kaduna organised by NASENI in Kaduna on Wednesday.

The Focus Group Engagement which had in attendance inventors and manufacturers drawn from the academia and private sectors in Kaduna was organized by NASENI to promote local manufacturing, innovation, and the adoption of Made in Nigeria products.

The Forum brought together government officials, industry leaders, and innovators to discuss policies that will drive Nigeria’s industrial and technological growth.

According to Aduagba, “What we are doing now is not to reinvent the wheel. We had one of our projects being started from the first principle which we are working on, both the Made in Nigeria helicopter and some Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).

“We have some which we bought over from developed countries, which we had them in Semi Knock Down (SKD) and some Complete Knock Down (CKD). So, we are now making use of science and engineering knowledge to work on the SKD and the CKD.

“Very soon, we are going to do the first test. Everything is nearing completion now and very soon, we will fly the first made-in-Nigeria helicopter,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Head of the Manufacturing Services Department at the Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute, Kano (under NASENI), Engr. Abdulfatai Ambali,  emphasized the agency’s role in national development, highlighting NASENI’s renewed focus on commercialization, collaboration, and creation under its current leadership.

According to him, “many Nigerians are not aware of NASENI and its activities. However, with the current leadership under the Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Suleman Halilu, the Agency is prioritising awareness, stakeholder engagement, and community impact,” he said.

He added that NASENI is working to develop homegrown technology to reduce the country’s overreliance on foreign products, with many innovative solutions already deployed across various sectors.

The facilitator of the program, Saleh Kwaru, urged Nigerians to be patriotic by supporting local industries, emphasizing that national development depends on patronizing homegrown products.

“We must look inward and leverage our resources. Constantly relying on foreign products weakens our economy,” he noted.

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

He said, “Innovation and modern technology are key to improving the acceptance of Nigerian products. This kind of engagement will help tackle production challenges and create more job opportunities,” he stated.

He added that SMEDAN and NASENI share common objectives, including marketing, technological innovation, and job creation, aligning their efforts for sustainable industrial growth.

The Forum, however, emphasised the need for policy reforms, innovation, and public awareness to strengthen Nigeria’s manufacturing sector and boost local production competitiveness.

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