Minister Tasks Stakeholders On Science, Technology Innovation

Minister of Science
and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has called on stakeholders to effectively utilise Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to reduce poverty.
Onu made the call at a meeting of the National Council on Science and Technology (NCST), in Abuja.
“If we can effectively deploy science, engineering, technology and Innovation in the exploitation of our abundant natural resources, our economy will become one of the largest in the world.
“STI has a critical role to play in fighting corruption, educating our people, creating jobs for young and old, creating wealth, reducing poverty and increasing our capacity.
“We can exploit it to build roads, railways, marines and airports as well as generate power.
“We can also exploit it to secure our nation, fight crime and build the necessary industrial and military complexes and satisfy the important and urgent needs of our defence and intelligence community’’, he said.
Onu said “by now, Nigeria ought to have developed well enough to be able to treat our sick in our own hospitals, manufacture, locally, the goods we need and provide the services that would promote tourism.’’
The minister said the interactive session was to provide a platform for cross fertilisation of ideas and exchange of views by members so as to facilitate effective utilisation of resources.
He called on state governments yet to establish ministry of science and technology to do so, adding that STI was the key to unlock the doors of prosperity and greatness for any nation.
Onu also called on all states government to reintroduce scholarship scheme for the best students in mathematics.
“I also wish to emphasise the urgent need for a comprehensive curriculum review in our primary, secondary and tertiary institutions to effectively reflect the importance of science and technology in nation building’’, he said.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Habiba Lawal, expressed optimism that the outcome of the meeting would deepen understanding of how application of STI could accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
“We need to find ways to improve the quality of life of all Nigerians and pave the way for the true greatness of our country.
“I am convinced that our deliberations will result in implementable actions that will help us grow our economy for the good of all Nigerians’’, Lawal said.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Science & Technology, Prof. Robert Boroffice, said a lot of Nigerians were expecting the council to use STI to solve many of the problems confronting the nation.
Boroffice said the committee would intensify efforts to apply STI to strengthen the nation’s currency and secure a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy that would be sustainable.
“The revised STI Policy will effectively coordinate stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to promote linkages and interaction between government and industries, the universities and research institutes.
“This meeting is, therefore, crucial because it provides an important platform to fast-track innovation and strengthen entrepreneurship in the country’’, Boroffice said.