THE Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has called on researchers in the field of Science and Technology to come up with innovations that will help in the diversification drive of the Federal Government to boost the economy.
He made the call while delivering a lecture entitled, “Economic Diversification and National Development in Nigeria: The Role of Science and Technology” to participants of Course 28 at National Defence College, in Abuja.
Onu told the participants that researchers were working to deliver the set results that could be commercialized to help build a diversified economy for the benefit of Nigerians.
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“The era of working in isolation of one another are long gone and gone for good. In the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, we no longer work in isolation, as we encourage and support the Academies of Science, Engineering, Letters, Social Science, and Education to work together for the good of the nation.” he added.
The minister further disclosed that one of the important instruments to drive the Science and Technology InnovationSTI policy is the National Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap 2017–2030 which would address societal problems and reorientate the citizenry to see science technology, and innovation as a required instrument to transit from commodity to a knowledge-based economy.
According to him, the ministry has developed five policies with the primary objective of diversifying the economy which include Technology Innovation Expo, Methanol Fuel Technology Programme, Electronic Technology Programme, National Leather and Leather Policy.
He added that Nigeria is gradually moving away from resource to a knowledge-based innovation driven economy.
He further said that the research activity of the ministry that had impacted positively on the economy of the country is the persistent research on cassava, which, he added, has resulted in the production of high quality cassava flour, industrial starch,fufu powder, cassava chips, cassava bread, cassava noodles etc.
Commandant of Defence College, Rear Admiral Markson Kadiri Makanjuola in his remarks, acknowledged the immense contribution of the minister in the field of science and technology, and for honouring their invitation anytime he was called upon.