The Federal Government has awarded innovation grants to 32 beneficiaries for the 2023 Presidential Standing Committee of Inventions and Innovations (PSCII) on Tuesday in Abuja.
PSCII was set up by the Federal Government and was inaugurated in October 2005, in order to encourage and promote inventions and innovations, especially in the informal sector of the economy.
It also aims to stimulate the interest of Nigerians in using Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to drive economic growth and overall national development.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, noted that all the supports being offered by the PSCII to Inventors and Innovators are guided by the operational guidelines and Terms of Reference (ToR).
Nnaji also disclosed that since the inception of the PSCII Programme in 2005, more than 600 Innovators/Inventors have so far benefitted from the grants across all the six geopolitical zones of the country after satisfying the selection criteria.
“The Ministry is making effort to improve the budgetary allocation for the Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovations (PSCII) Federal Government’s funding level of the Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovations (PSCII).
“Also collaborations with relevant stakeholders such as Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TetFund), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), the National Planning Commission, e.t.c., is facilitating the achievement of the ultimate goal of the PSCII Programme by providing a solid foundation for a technological break-through in the country, as well as improving the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians.
“In our bid to transit from Resource-Based to a Knowledge-Based Economy driven by Innovation, it is worthy of note that, value-addition to natural resources through the application of Science, Technology and Innovation is pertinent for a competitive economy and attainment of sustainable development.
“Hence, the ability of Nigeria to compete and prosper depends to a significant extent, more on the deployment of technological capacities and innovations than on exploitation of natural resources.
“However, Global Competitiveness is expected to contribute to the job and wealth creation, improving the well- being and quality of life of our people through the production of goods and services and building the human capacities required for such activity.”
The Minister also congratulated all the 32(Thirty-Two) beneficiaries of the year 2023 PSCII grants for being carefully screened and selected among 446 Inventors and Innovators that applied for the grants.
“The grants being awarded to you today should be judiciously used for the good purpose which they are meant for.
“I challenge all the beneficiaries, here present, towards further creativity, inventions and innovations using this grant; as this forms the critical factor in national development, economic growth and global competitiveness in the near future,” he added.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Esubana Nko Asanye, noted that in today’s modern world, Science, Technology and Innovation play a crucial role in driving progress and shaping societies.
“These domains have a profound impact on various aspects of our lives, ranging from communication and transportation, to healthcare and economy amongst others.
“Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural resources and creative human capital from which locally developed technologies have emerged and still emerging as the years pass by.”
Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Board for Technology Incubation(NBTI) Mrs Patricia Uche Chukwu, reiterated tha inventions and innovations and their advancement results in great technological progress.
“Technological progress engenders efficient production of more and better goods and services which translates to prosperity as well as economic and technological growth of our country; in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.
“Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovations (PSCII) was inaugurated to encourage technology based domestic initiatives as we search for homegrown solutions and innovations to foster economic development of our country. Since the inception of this programme a lot of Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones have benefitted after satisfying the selection process.
“This has led to the generation, creation, infusion, utilization and proliferation of many need driven inventions and innovations in Nigeria. The benefits of crafting inventions and innovations brings happiness to all and sundry,” he said.
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