Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, on Tuesday in Abuja reiterated the need for the nation to build a strong and viable economy.
The minister said this on the occasion of the presentation of prizes, awards and plaques to outstanding exhibitors of the 2021 edition of science, technology and innovation expo held in March.
He said a strong and viable economy would bring prosperity to all Nigerians and this could be achieved by looking for homegrown solutions to problems and challenges faced as a nation.
According to the minister, Nigeria today needs research-based products, goods and services.
“This is the way to achieve sustainable industrialisation that will help us create jobs as well as generate wealth for both the young and old.
Onu pointed out that this would arrest youth restiveness and improve national security, promising not to rest until Nigerians got the benefit from a strong economy dependent on knowledge that was innovation-driven.
He expressed optimism that through this means the nation would benefit from the full implementation of the Executive Order No 5, as step towards achieving the nation’s developmental goal of improving all sectors of the economy.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari on Feb. 5, 2018, signed Executive Order 5 to improve local content in public procurement with science, engineering and technology components.
The Executive Order demonstrates the Federal government’s efforts to promote the application of science, technology and innovation within Nigeria.
The minister told the awardees that it was a way of encouraging them to do more in providing solutions to Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) challenges in the country.
“I urge you to make good use of the funds given to you for more research and production that will not only benefit the country but will also be of great benefit to you as individuals and organisations.
“We will be happy to introduce you to investors in order to “facilitate and promote the commercialisation of your research findings,’’ he said.
Onu maintained that it would be interesting to see research findings of Nigeria’s laboratories being commercialised into products and services needed in markets and shops.
He noted that it was time the nation started producing the things needed and used in homes, offices, schools, hospitals and factories as well as export the surplus to the rest of the world.
He said this was the only way the nation could grow to become great, capable of using what it has to meet the needs of its people.
NAN reports that the awards were in various categories; in the JETS category, Calvary Arrows College, Gboko, Benue state emerged the winner scoring 79.5 per cent.
In the technology Entrepreneurs category, Inventor Ernest Adzor emerged the winner scoring 83.5 per cent.
In the Research Institutions category, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC, won with total score of 72.7 per cent.
In the Tertiary Educational Institutions category, Michael Okpara University of Technology, Umudike, won with a total score of 74.3 per cent.
In other prizes and awards category, Miss Faith Odunsi, winner of Global Open Mathematics Competition carted away N1 million.
