(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/nigerian-coat-of-arms-logo-5322-300x281.png) Professor Ita Okon Bassey Ewa, the Minister of Science and Technology has challenged participants at the 12th National Council on Science and Technology that held in Ibadan, Oyo Sate to come up with recommendations that will drive the real sectors of the Nigerian economy and fast track the transformation agenda of the present administration.
Professor Ewa who delivered the key note address at the occasion said, "The challenge before this Council is how to galvanize our thoughts and submissions and recommend implementable projects that will drive the real sectors of the Nigerian economy and fast track the transformation agenda". He admonished participants to use Science Technology and Innovation to transform Nigeria into one of the top 20 economies in year 2020", stressing that a nation that is unable to develop its STI system will sink further down, while those with strong STI will mount up, as STI provides the basis for industrialization and sustainable development.
The Minister enumerated the several achievements of his Ministry towards the realization of rapid national development and the transformation agenda of the to include, the establishment of the ward-based cluster projects; the development of a framework for the national system of innovation; the strengthening of the Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovations; the renewal of collaborations with international partners and governments on STI; the engagement of stakeholder groups spanning inventors, researchers, industries, banks, SMEs, manufacturers and technology managers.
He added that at present, the Ministry is in consultation towards the establishment of the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO ) SIlicon Valley for the promotion of ICT wand solar technology, including the refocusing and the reformation of institutes to be specialized, technologically driven and responsive to specific industry needs.
The Oyo State Governor, Senator Ishaq Abiola Ajimobi, represented by the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Alhaji Waheed Akin Olajide declared the occasion open. In his address, he stated that Oyo state is blessed with abundant natural resources such as clay, kaolin and aquamarine. He implored the Ministry, agencies and the organized private sector to explore and develop these rich and abundant resources. He specifically requested from the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, the deployment of technologies for the procession of cassava, cashew and kaolin.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta informed delegates that the revised National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy document had not only been approved by the Federal Executive Council, but had been launched and popularized by the Ministry. As part of the strategy to popularize the document, the Perm Sec. said, a set of key performance indicators were developed and validated through a national workshop that was attended by a wide spectrum of stakeholders, adding, that National System of Innovation Workshops were held across three zones, namely Kaduna, Aba and Lagos in an effort to evolve a set of partnership initiatives between knowledge-based institution and the private sector.
According to her, the outcome of the workshops revealed that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and all stakeholders that participated were committed to moving the Science and Technology sector forward toward achieving the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
In his contribution, the Senate Chairman on Science and Technology, Senator (Prof) Robert Ajayi Borroffice said, the economic and military power of any country depends largely on its knowledge and application of science and technology. He lamented that science and technology has not been given the necessary attention in Nigeria, saying allocation to the Ministry has been dismally low, and to achieve any meaningful result, funding to the sector should be increased. He said the Vision 2020 programme is laudable, but its dreams may not be realized if funding to the sector remains the way it is. While describing the ongoing attempts to reduce the number of research institutions in the Ministry as ill- advised, the Senate chairman pledged his Committee's commitment to improving funding to the Ministry.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Industry, Applied Science and Technology, Eng. Abiola Ladoja, in his address, sought for closer cooperation with Oyo State in the science and technology sector. He also proposed the establishment of a science and technology forum in the country for the proper implementation of decisions taken at National Council of Science and Technology meetings.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria