Nigeria is on the brink of a historic aviation breakthrough as the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) announced that the country’s first locally made helicopter is nearing completion.
This was revealed by Kareem Aduagba, project manager of the Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute, during a focus group engagement in Kaduna on Wednesday.
The event, organized by NASENI, brought together key players from academia, the private sector, and government agencies to discuss ways to strengthen local manufacturing and innovation. The gathering also served as a platform to promote policies that will accelerate Nigeria’s industrial and technological advancement.
According to Aduagba, preparations are underway for the first test flight of the helicopter, signaling Nigeria’s commitment to developing its own aerospace technology. “Very soon, we are going to do the first test. Everything is nearing completion now, and very soon, we will fly the first made-in-Nigeria helicopter,” he stated.
Beyond the helicopter project, NASENI is also developing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as part of its broader vision to position Nigeria as a player in the global aerospace industry.
Aduagba stressed that the goal is not to reinvent the wheel but to refine and build upon existing technologies to meet the nation’s specific needs.
