The Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1993 as a multidisciplinary research and development centre. It is located 70 km from the capital city of Abuja, and is surrounded by beautiful scenery made up of hills and low-lying savannah vegetation. As a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, SHESTCO is headed by a Director-General who also functions as the Chief Executive Officer. The current Director-General is Dr. A. J. Coker.

There are three National Advanced Laboratories at SHESTCO - a Biotechnology Laboratory, a Chemistry Laboratory and a Physics Laboratory. There is also a Nuclear Technology Centre, which houses a state-of-the-art gamma irradiation facility. The laboratories and centre are served by a workshop, where routine maintenance and fabrication of components take place. The laboratories also share a common library located within the complex. Research at SHESTCO is truly multidisciplinary. Generally, programmes within the complex are designed to fulfil one of the following objectives:

The vision of SHESTCO lies in the provision of opportunities for the utilisation of modern technology to contribute towards the advancement of Nigerian society. To achieve this, the complex is at the vanguard of promoting information exchange between it and other institutions both local and international. It also contributes to the competitiveness of industries by promoting innovation, a key ingredient to survival in the face of growing global competition.