NASENI’s Innovator’s Touch Shines in Khalil Halilu’s Transformative 365 Days – Dr. Tanko

By Emmanuel Kwada 

In a resounding chorus of applause and admiration, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) marked a pivotal moment in its illustrious journey, celebrating the visionary leadership of Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu.

As the agency reflects on two years of unprecedented transformation, Dr. Yahaya Tanko, Technical Assistant to the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, delivered a heartfelt tribute that encapsulated the electric energy pulsing through NASENI’s corridors: “NASENI Had the Innovator’s Touch in Khalil’s 365 Days.”

Celebrating two years in office of EVC/CEO of NASENI (@NASENIHQ ), Mr Khalil Suleiman Halilu (@KSHalilu ) is a significant milestone in realizing Nigeria’s industrialization agenda.

It’s a time to reflect on the accomplishments, overcome challenges, and set the stage for further… pic.twitter.com/5SlMHUVMl5

— NASENI (@NASENIHQ) November 15, 2025

Dr. Tanko joined staff and management in a jubilant celebration that felt less like a formal anniversary for Nigeria’s next industrial revolution.

“Under Mr. Halilu’s dynamic stewardship, what was once a blueprint of potential has exploded into a symphony of innovation and impact,” Dr. Tanko declared.

“In just 365 days—nay, every single one of those groundbreaking days—Khalil has infused NASENI with the innovator’s touch, turning policy whispers into thunderous actions that resonate across our nation’s socio-economic landscape.”

Appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 1, 2023, at the remarkably young age of 32, Mr. Halilu; a serial entrepreneur, tech savant, and global shaper—brought to NASENI a rare alchemy of private-sector agility and public-sector patriotism.

With a Master’s in International Business from the University of Hertfordshire and a track record that includes founding eco-friendly tech hubs like The CANs Park and pioneering logistics solutions via ShapShap, Halilu wasted no time reimagining NASENI as a powerhouse of market-driven ingenuity.

With a mantra to shift from “research-for-shelves” to “research-for-market,” ensuring every breakthrough lands squarely in the hands of Nigerians who need it most.

And the results is nothing short of a national triumph. In his first year alone, NASENI under Halilu unveiled 35 market-ready products, from solar-powered tools illuminating rural homes to electric vehicles paving the way for sustainable transport.

By the two-year mark, this momentum had surged to 44 innovative launches and 50 ambitious projects spanning agriculture, renewable energy, security, and digital tech—each a testament to Halilu’s yielding commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda.

President Tinubu himself hailed these feats during Halilu’s second anniversary on May 29, 2025, praising NASENI’s role in youth empowerment, skill acquisition, and job creation—initiatives that have bridged inequality and placed young Nigerians at the epicenter of development.

Dr. Tanko’s praise struck a particularly resonant chord, highlighting Halilu’s “transformative leadership” as the secret sauce behind NASENI’s cultural renaissance.

“Khalil didn’t just lead; he liberated,” Tanko enthused. “He fostered efficiency, accountability, and a bold, staff-driven ethos of problem-solving that has redefined what it means to innovate in the public sector.”

This overhaul has not only boosted internal morale but also magnetized global partnerships, including billion-dollar MoUs with three Chinese organizations under the Belt and Road Initiative, a game-changing collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency for solar deployments, and a strategic alliance with the Family Homes Fund to slash housing costs through cutting-edge building tech.

Halilu’s accolades read like a who’s-who of international acclaim: Honored as a Young Global Leader by ThisDay Newspaper in January 2025 for his “visionary contributions to Nigeria’s technology and manufacturing sectors,” and later that July, receiving the prestigious African Achievers Award at the UK Parliament’s House of Lords for championing Africa’s innovation ecosystems. These honors underscore a leader who doesn’t just build bridges—he forges futures.

Yet, amid the celebrations, Halilu remained the picture of humility, dedicating the milestones to his “NASENI family.”

As confetti settled and toasts rang out, one thing was crystal clear: Under Khalil Halilu, NASENI isn’t just evolving—it’s electrifying.

Read Also: We’re Not Just Researching, We’re Producing: Dr. Tanko on Innovating for Impact – NASENI’s SDG Success Stories