The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology (FMIST) is set to harness the full potentials of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) ecosystem through collaboration with relevant stakeholders in order to ensure that research results are market driven for economic diversitifaction and betterment of the citizens.
Speaking at a fireside chat with the title “Reshaping Nigeria’s Potential in Science, Technology and Innovation”, at the Center for the Study of Economies of Africa arena in Abuja. The Honorable Minister of Innovation Science and Technology Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh SAN said that the Ministry will identify national priority areas and deploy home grown technologies in solving them in order to encourage local industries and create jobs for our teeming youth.
He pointed out that the Ministry under his leadership will work assiduously with relevant stakeholders to transform the country’s economy from material to knowledge-based economy, adding that no country has ever developed without the full deployment of technological apparatus to all sectors of the economy for the advancement of the Country.
Udeh disclosed that the Ministry through its Agency Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) has concluded plans to solarize some tertiary institutions and hospitals across the six geopolitical zones including FCT with solar minigrid as part of its efforts to solve power shortage among others.
The Minister reiterated the Ministry’s commitment towards resuscitating the Innovation Hubs and Incubation Centers across the 36 states to enable them meet up with international standard and also harness the potentials of Nigerian teaming youths into innovative and research products for commercialization which will contribute to the growth of the economy.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda for its commitment towards the advancement of STI ecosystem, ensuring that all hands are on desk to ensure 30% value addition to raw materials and transform them into products before exportation so as to grow our foreign reserve, redeem the value of naira and reduce poverty to the barest minimum.
In his key note address, the President African University of Science and Technology Abuja, Prof. Azikiwe Peter Onwualu said that reshaping Nigerian’s STI potentials means creating physical infrastructure, provision of financial structure and robust policies to retain the best talent that would solve the country’s toughest challenges thereby creating wealth and transforming the economy from import oriented to production economy.
He further stated that, Science, Technology and Innovation are the engines that drives economic growth, social wellbeing and national competiveness in the world economy.
Earlier, the Executive Director, Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwena said that the event provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the role the Ministry plays in shaping Nigeria’s technological future from artificial intelligence to biotechnology, renewable energy, digital finance and agriculture.
Signed
Mrs. Pauline Sule,anipr
Head, Press and PRU
