NASENI Goes Into Collaboration With Caverton Helicopters to Build Drone Plant

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), in collaboration with Caverton Helicopters, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to construct a drone assembly plant, a drone training school, and a service centre for helicopters. Caverton Helicopters is an aviation and logistics company based in Nigeria.

Speaking about the collaboration, the vice chairman and chief executive officer of NASENI, Khalil Haliu, applauded the management of Caverton Helicopters yesterday during a tour of Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc in Lagos and the signing of the MoU, according to a statement.

He said,

• I am very inspired by what I have seen today. It is a testament to the can-do Nigerian spirit. From modest beginnings, you have built a successful business that continues to grow, adopt, and deploy world-class technology, processes, and talent to place Nigeria on the global aviation map.

• From your Aviation Training Centre (CATC), home to a Flight Simulator Training Device, to the Aircraft Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, to your helicopter and marine operations, everything we have seen here today has been state-of-the-art. Caverton has truly built an aviation brand that is contributing to the prosperity and development of Nigeria and that will stand the test of time.

He stated that NASENI is looking for ways to engage with significant players in the industry, especially those at the cutting edge of technology and innovation in Nigeria that align with its value, such as areas of defence and aerospace, engineering and manufacturing, renewable energy and sustainability, health and biotechnology, agriculture and food sustainable, transportation and mobility, education and creative industry, IT and software, and construction and smart cities.

“I can say that we found a worthy partner in Caverton,” Halilu said.

Discussing the government’s commitment to supporting indigenous companies, he added,

• As Nigeria’s only purpose-built federal agency with the mandate to intervene in all fields of science and engineering infrastructure, we always strive to ensure that our engagements go beyond talk into action that aligns with our core principles of collaboration, creation, and commercialisation. That is why we have put pen to paper and signed this MOU to establish a drone assembly plant, a drone training school, and a service centre for helicopters.

• This MoU is only the first step in what I am certain will be an enduring and rewarding partnership between NASENI and Caverton. I do not doubt that the synergy from our partnership will enable us to achieve significantly beneficial outcomes in terms of jobs, skills and technology transfer, industrialisation, and the development of Nigeria’s aviation industry. I look forward to what we will build and implement within the framework of this important MOU. Today marks the beginning of a transformational journey for NASENI, Caverton, and Nigeria.

Rotimi Makanjuola, chief operating officer of Caverton Offshore Support Group, expressed delight over the visit by NASENI.

He said, 

• The whole idea is to reaffirm our partnership with NASENI. We have an MoU together, so the idea is to try and see what other ways we can partner and collaborate.

• This is the second time they have been to our facility, and they have seen changes; they have seen our capability, especially in training maintenance, and they have felt that now they are earnest about working with us, we are hoping that we will be able to work on a lot of areas, especially helicopters and aircraft that are serviceable.