President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday announced the establishment of the National Engineering and Innovation Fund.

Tinubu made this known at the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) 2024 International Engineering Conference Exhibition and Annual General Meeting in Abuja.

The president was represented by the Minister of State for Works, Mr Bello Goronyo,

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference was, “Sustainable Engineering Solutions to Food Security and Climate Change”.

“I am proud to announce the establishment of the National Engineering and Innovation Fund.

“It is a new initiative designed to provide grants and resources to engineers and technologists working on solutions for Nigeria’s unique challenges.

“With this fund, we aim to support local innovations, encourage entrepreneurship, and ensure that Nigeria remains at the forefront of engineering advancement in Africa.

“It is also aimed at strengthening regulations and standards. This is because a commitment to quality and safety is at the heart of responsible engineering,” he said.

He promised to work closely with the NSE and other regulatory bodies to ensure that only licensed and qualified professionals were entrusted with critical national projects.

He encouraged the engineering community to continue exploring solutions in solar, wind, and other renewable energy technologies for access to reliable, affordable and sustainable energy.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, commended NSE for the continued commitment and support to the development of agriculture in Nigeria.

Kyari said, “As we all are aware, Nigeria’s food security and climate resilience face pressing challenges that demand innovative and sustainable engineering solutions.

“Some of these engineering tools include emerging technologies, innovative concepts, further reduction in post-harvest losses and increased usage of agricultural machinery for enhanced productivity and efficiency”.

Kyari urged engineers to work on affordable and adaptable machinery that suited Nigerian crops and terrains, encouraging mechanised farming to increase efficiency and productivity.

He also called on engineers to design sustainable storage facilities and processing technologies to minimise post-harvest losses, especially those that could be deployed in rural communities.

He said that affordable solar, bio-gas and other renewable energy systems would revolutionise agriculture in off-grid areas by providing reliable power for irrigation, processing and storage.

He said that the Federal Government was interested in the outcome of the gathering to collaborate, support and push for legislation that would promote sustainable engineering solutions in agriculture through enabling environment for innovation.

Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno called on engineers to invest in research in the areas of irrigation, food cultivation, water harvesting, mechanisation, environmental degradation, among others to boost food production.

Zulum also called on the NSE to invest in the areas of utilisation of alternative energy sources, especially geothermal, solar power, biomass energy, with the view to reducing or slowing emission of greenhouse gases in Nigeria.

“This is very important. On my part, as the governor of Borno state and one of you, we shall continue to provide the political will and the commitment needed to drive the process,” he said.

Mrs Margaret Oguntala, President/Chairman-in-Council of NSE, said that the theme of the conference served as a clarion call for engineers to rise as problem solvers and innovators.

“Food insecurity remains a critical issue, exacerbated by climate change, which disrupts agricultural productivity and endangers livelihoods.

“As engineers, we hold the tools to pioneer sustainable solutions, whether through advancements in precision agriculture, renewable energy for rural communities or climate-adapted infrastructure.

“The solutions we craft here will not only serve Nigeria but will resonate globally,” she said.

Oguntala challenged engineers to push boundaries, urging them to think beyond limitations and inspire solutions that will not only solve today’s problems but safeguard the future.

She said that the NSE would collaborate with government, academia, industry and international partners to implement the recommendations effectively.

“Together, we can secure a sustainable future. As engineers, our work is the blueprint of progress.

“Let us build a future where no Nigerian goes hungry, and every community thrives sustainably,” she said. (NAN)