The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has said that Nigeria’s global competitiveness ranking has improved from the position of 124 out of 140 countries by 2015/2016 to a position of 115 out of 140 countries by 2018/ 2019.
Onu made this statement during the opening of council session of the National Council on Science, Technology and Innovation on Thursday last week in Abuja.
Onu further disclosed that resolutions arrived at the various meetings and many of the policies initiated by the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI) and approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) owe a lot to the resolution of the council meetings.
Onu added that the National Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap, 2017-2030, the National Strategy for Competitiveness in Raw Material and Product Development; the Presidential Executive Order 5, the Methanol Fuel Policy and Leather Products Policy had contributed in improving the global competitiveness ranking of our nation as recorded by the World Economic Forum.
He said that all policies initiated by the FMSTI had made significant contributions to national development and contribute in making the economy to be a knowledge -based and innovation-driven economy as against the previous situation where the economy was almost dependent on commodities.
Onu further said that during the 2022 Science expo, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the Science Technology TV (STITV) to help in the advocacy.
adding that STI TV will bring science, technology and innovation to every home such that all Nigerians would see STI as a way of life.
Earlier, the governor of Kano, represented by his deputy, Dr. Yusuf Gawuna, said that for any nation to attain sustainable development it must embrace, deploy and apply STI in an appropriate and efficient manner.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mohammed Abdullahi also said that Nigeria in her bid to transit from a resource-based to knowledge-based economy driven by innovation is germane for competitive economy and attainment of sustainable development.
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“Absolutely, When we came with the Buhari government in 2015 I became the minister. We were committed to a roadmap to establish a National Carrier, to concession the airports, to set up a leasing company, to establish cargo facilities and we have been doing that.”
On why the Buhari government wanted a national carrier, the minister responded: “Nigeria is situated at the centre of Africa, equidistant from all locations in Africa. 30.4 million square kilometres miles, 1.5 billion people, very green land. If Central and Eastern Africa is the belt of the continent, then Nigeria is the buckle. 200 million people and rising middle class, propensity to fly is high. Nigeria is a candidate for National Carrier.”
Sirika who insisted that the coming national carrier will be private sector driven added; “Private. Yes. 5 per cent government and no government stepping right in that company, no government control, no membership of government on board. Totally private and committed.
“Whatever we say we will do as a government since 2015, it has happened. that is why Tim Clark of Emirates, Qatar Airways and all of them are looking to go into Nigeria in multiple frequencies and multiple landing points because Nigeria is the right place for the airline business.
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