Nigerian Minister of Innovation Science Technology visit to Princeton University

Date
Sep 27, 2024, 9:00 am5:00 pm

Details

Event Description

Africa World Initiative hosted the Nigerian Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, at Princeton University on September 27th, 2024. Building from an earlier visit in 2022 when the Program in African Studies hosted a team from the Office of Nigerian Vice-President, the Nigerian Universities Commission, and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the minister came to Princeton University on official duty to further discuss areas of mutual interest.

Chief Uche Nnaji was accompanied by his delegation:

  • Dr. Robert Ngwu, Special Adviser to the Honorable Minister
  • Mr. Temitope Toogun, Chairman, FMIST Research & Innovation Collaboration Strategy Committee
  • Ms. Ure Utah, Technical Advisor to the Honorable Minister
  • Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director General, Energy Commission of Nigeria
  • Mr. Hamza Ibrahim, Special Assistant to the Honorable Minister, Energy Commission of Nigeria
  • Abimbola Olufure Wycliffe, Head, Investment and Technology Promotion Office, UNIDO Nigeria
  • Dahiru Mohammed, Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee on

Technology Transfer

  • Khalil Halilu, Executive Secretary of the National Agency for Science & Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI)

During his visit, Chief Uche Nnaji and his delegation attended a meet and greet at PIIRS, where they were welcomed by Chika Okeke-Agulu, Director of Africa World Initiative, Deborah Yashar, Director of PIIRS, and followed by a presentation by Rodney Priestley, Dean of the Graduate School.

Chief Uche Nnaji and his delegation visited the Andlinger Center

  • Welcome remarks by Professor Iain McCulloch, Director of the Andlinger Center
  • Tour of the Materials for Energy Lab by Kelsey Hatzell, Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment 
  • Presentation on Energy Systems and Analysis Group by Eric Larson, Senior Research Engineer

At the Innovation Center, Chief Uche Nnaji and his delegation toured the Biolabs and listened to a presentation by START entrepreneurs about their work.

The visit culminated with a tour of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

  • Welcome remarks by Steven Cowley, Laboratory Director
  • Remarks by Chief Uche Nnaji, Honorable Minister of Innovation, Science & Technology, Nigeria
  • Remarks by Arturo Dominguez, Head of Science Education
  • Presentation by John Mark Martirez, Staff Research Scientist & Deputy Advisor for
  • Sustainability Science; Interim Division Head of Electro Manufacturing
  • Tour of Sustainability & Low Temperature Plasma
  • Tour the NSTX-U Fusion Machine

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