NASENI Gears Up for Historic Test Flight of First Locally Made Helicopter, Pushing Technological Innovation Forward
Nigeria is on the verge of a major technological breakthrough as the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) confirms that the country’s first Made-in-Nigeria helicopter is nearing completion and will soon take its maiden flight.
Engr. Kareem Aduagba, Project Manager at NASENI’s Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute, made this revelation during a Focus Group Engagement in Kaduna, where he highlighted the progress of the indigenous aircraft, dubbed the “Nigerian Chopper.”
Pioneering Local Innovation
The engagement session brought together industry leaders, manufacturers, government officials, and academics to discuss Nigeria’s technological future and the role of local innovation in industrial growth.
“What we are doing now is not reinventing the wheel,”
Aduagba said.
“Our team has developed several projects from scratch, including the Made-in-Nigeria helicopter and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).”
He further explained that NASENI had also acquired aircraft components in Semi Knock Down (SKD) and Complete Knock Down (CKD) forms from advanced nations, which are now being assembled and modified using local expertise.
“Very soon, we will conduct the first test flight of the Nigerian Chopper as we finalize the development process,”
Aduagba assured.
Driving Commercialization and Local Adoption
Engr. Abdulfatai Ambali, Head of Manufacturing Services at NASENI’s Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute, Kano, emphasized the agency’s focus on commercialization and collaboration under its current leadership.
“Many Nigerians are unaware of NASENI’s contributions, but under the leadership of Executive Vice Chairman Khalil Suleman Halilu, we are prioritizing awareness, stakeholder engagement, and real community impact,”
Ambali said.
According to him, NASENI is committed to reducing Nigeria’s dependence on foreign technology by promoting homegrown innovations across various sectors.
Backing Local Industries for The Growth Of The Economy
Saleh Kwaru, the event’s facilitator, urged Nigerians to support locally made products, stressing that economic growth depends on reducing reliance on imports.
“We must look inward and leverage our resources. Constant dependence on foreign products weakens our economy,”
Kwaru noted.
Similarly, Yusuf Suleman, Acting Zonal Coordinator for the North West Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), praised the event for addressing key challenges affecting Nigerian-made products, such as quality and finishing.
“Innovation and modern technology are essential for improving the acceptance of Nigerian products. Events like this help solve production challenges and create job opportunities,”
he said.
With the imminent test flight of the Nigerian Chopper, NASENI is set to make history, proving that local expertise can drive technological advancement in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
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