The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffery Nnaji, has said that Nigeria seeks to strengthen technology and commercialization, ensuring that research is translated into industrial applications through collaboration and partnership with European Union (EU)for technological advancement of the country.
According to Nnaji, “the existing bilateral agreement provides a structured framework for cooperation, that seek to enhance its implementation to promote joint research, knowledge sharing and investment in priority technological areas’’.
The Minister made this statement when the delegation from European Union led by the new Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS Mr. Gautier Mignot paid him a courtesy visit today in Abuja.
He further said that the nation aims for greater inclusion of our public research institutes in European funding programs in order to foster knowledge exchange and new innovations for growth of Nigeria’s economy.
Nnaji explained that European Union technical assistance for Inter-Ministrerial Committee on Research and Innovation will tutor Nigeria Scientific and Industrial advancement as well as boost Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country which will enhance job creation and reduce poverty.
The Minister expressed his gladness with the visit saying it is an opportunity to deepen Nigeria’s cooperation with European Union (EU) for mutual progress and reaffirms the country’s commitment to working closely in advancing Nigeria Scientific and Technological ambitions.
Earlier the new Ambassador to the European Union, Mr. Gautier Mignot, assured of EU readiness to collaborate with the Ministry in a number of programs most especially in the area of Green Hydrogen and Green Methanol projects as well as support the Clean Energy Agenda.
Also he reiterated that EU will provide technical support for the Ministry in the area of training Scientific Officers to compete favorably with their foreign counterparts.
Signed
Pauline Sule (Mrs), anipr
Head Information & PRU
