The Honourable Minister of Science and Technology Dr Ogbonnaya Onu said that the Federal Government is set to establish Oil and Gas Equipment Machinery Development Institute come next year 2018 in Yenegoa, Bayelsa state.
Dr Onu said this while being received by the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State Rear Admiral John Jonah, during his tour to the South- South zone of the country, during the course of the week.
Part of the reasons for the establishment of the oil and gas development institute Dr Onu said is” the strong belief that Bayelsa State has made important contributions in the oil and gas sector in the economy”.
“The time has come for Nigerians to look inwards and develop the capacity in oil and gas exploration and processing using appropriate technologies”. Onu stated.
The Minister noted that it is important for us to have a development institute that will culminate into a centre of excellence where there will be skills development in oil and gas, which will greatly enhance entrepreneurial capabilities of our citizenry.
According to the minister, when there is research and development in oil and gas sector from the institute, products generated will help to invigorate the economy of Bayelsa and the country at large.
Dr Onu stated that the products from Oil and Gas Equipment and Machinery Development Institute would further provide jobs and create wealth for sustainable economic development in the country.
He assured Nigerians that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology is working assiduously in line with the policies of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to move our economy from the direction it has been operating on in the past 56 years.
The Minister also said that the oil and development institute is important now, given the fact that the research and development work that will emanate from it, will be mass- produced to meet our local needs and would be exported to other countries in the world.
In his response, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state Rear Admiral John Jonah said that Science and Technology Ministry is an important ministry that is giving the necessary drive to move the country forward.
Moreover, he said that the ministry is vital to the economy where other sectors should rely and key into in the ongoing diversification process of the current administration.
He also called on Nigerians to embrace research and development as science and technology is what drives the economy of the world today. That with so much knowledge inherent in the country, there should be a synergy between the state and the centre where collaboration and cooperation would be harnessed.
He lauded the minister’s initiative of establishing the Oil and Gas Equipment and Machinery Development Institute in Bayelsa State and pledged full support and cooperation for the project.
Earlier in the day, the Honourable Minister paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike, where he stated that the federal government is establishing a Chemical Equipment and Machinery Development Institute as part of the process to build knowledge –based economy to sustain the country in this period that Nigeria is exiting recession.
“ He said that with the establishment of this institute, research results will be made available to the private sector, which will position Nigeria to grow astronomically .“
Governor Wike in his response stated that investment in science research institutes would revive our ailing economy.
He further stated that the development of relevant machineries and equipments would create jobs locally and enhance productivity in the region and in Nigeria as a whole.
Henrietta Okokon
For: DD Press
