Science, technology panacea to Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges – Onu

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has said that application of science and technological innovation would help to solve socio-economic challenges confronting Nigeria.

Onu stated this while defending the 2017 budget of the ministry before the Senate Committee on Science and Technology on Tuesday, in Abuja.

He said that the dwindling revenue to government had hampered the release of funds to handle projects initiated by the ministry.

“When we assumed office in 2015, we met an economy that was seriously challenged in many areas.

“However, we have worked very hard even with very lean resources, to push the economy,” he said.

According to Onu, Nigeria has all it takes to surmount its enormous economic challenges notwithstanding the current economic situation of the country.

He said that other achievements of the ministry in 2016 included the fact the National Council of Science and Technology that had not met for 30 years met for the first time during the period.

“The council is working out how extra budgetary provisions can be made to fund research and innovations not just in science and technology but throughout the country.”

The minister disclosed that the ministry had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with two companies, Nasco Foods Limited and May and Baker to boost the economy.

“The ministry is also working to produce a solar-powered electronic voting machine to ensure that subsequent elections in the country were free and fair,” he said.

In his remarks, Chairman of the committee, Sen. Ajayi Boroffice, said that the budget defence was aimed at giving the ministry a fair hearing in defence of many things, particularly its level of performance.

A member of the committee, Sen. Sam Anyanwu, queried the ministry’s overhead for 2016

“You applied for N22 million for Information Technology Consulting and only N5 million was given while you also applied for welfare package for N20 million and the N20 million was released.

“So welfare is more important than information consulting which will help the ministry,” he said.

Anyanwu, however, said that the Ministry of Science and Technology was “the only ministry that would bring Nigeria out of recession”, adding that if all agencies under the ministry were properly driven, Nigeria would boost export of commodities.

“It is an important sector and must be given enough opportunity to perform, especially in terms of funding,” he said.