To foster bilateral cooperation, Nigeria’s National Agency for Science and Technology Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TACR) have formalised a $21 million implementation agreement for the Delta-2 projects.
The Delta-2 initiative represents a cooperative endeavour, marked by co-funding research and development (R&D) projects—a pivotal stride in realising the shared objectives of both nations and a tangible effort towards diversifying Nigeria’s economy.
Commencing in 2001, the Delta-2 programme gained momentum with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2014 between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Czech Republic. The MoU focused on technology transfer and aimed to stimulate economic diversification in Nigeria through collaborative R&D projects, particularly in agriculture, mining, and general manufacturing tailored for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
During the signing ceremony held in Abuja, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, highlighted the project’s significance. He disclosed that out of the allocated $21.7 million for the selected projects, TACR’s contribution stands at $11.7 million, with NASENI contributing $10 million.
Halilu emphasised the importance of the Delta-2 project, revealing that the president’s directive was to provide updates and propose a forward trajectory for the programme.