A Federal Government agency – the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, has decried the low patronage of Nigerian-made products by Nigerians.

The agency identified some challenges leading to the low patronage of the local products as affordability and public perception, among others.

Speaking during a stakeholders meeting organized by the agency in Akure, Ondo State capital, the Deputy Director of Engineering at NASENI, Joseph Alasoluyi, said Nigerians preferred buying foreign goods compared to local goods.

Alasoluyi, however disclosed that the agency had trained over 50 participants in the production of hand-made products, in a bid to ensure Nigeria-made products are patronized. 

He explained that NASENI was set up to promote science, technology, and engineering as a foundation for Nigeria’s development and currently operates 12 institutes nationwide to achieve its objectives.

According to him, the aim of President Bola Tinubu, who is also the overall chairman of NASENI, was to ensure high production and patronage of “our local products thereby creating employment opportunities for many.”

In his remarks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Samuel Oluyamo, blamed the Federal Government for not properly funding research in the varsities, also noting that many research outputs were left halfway due to lack of funding and weak linkages between research institutions and industry.

Oluyamo also queried the federal government’s commitment to funding research and development, saying many academic innovations remained on the shelve due to a lack of support for commercialization and poor infrastructure.