Onu urges Nigerian scientists to show interest in space technology

The Federal Government has called on the Nigerian scientists to help resolve and make appropriate recommendations on challenging issues on space science and technologies for socio-economic development in Nigeria.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, also tasked the nation’s scientists to resolve other issues including biotechnology, process and manufacturing technology, skills development, research and development, science and society.

Speaking while declaring open the first Nigerian/Portuguese Scientific Conference with the theme: “Science, Technology and Nigeria/Portugal collaborative framework in Abuja, Onu, also urged them to deploy their expertise in the study of Atlantic Ocean as it holds a lot of promise for the future of humanity.

Dr Onu stressed the urgent need to intensify the study of the Atlantic Ocean because it has enormous resources that could be of tremendous benefits to the economy, adding that Nigeria’s participation as a founding member of the Atlantic International Research (AIR) Centre was a remarkable development.

He also said that the collaboration between Nigeria and Portugal was unique as this was the first time such initiative was taking place.

Such collaboration, according to him, would foster proper management of both countries’ resources for peace and prosperity of the world.

The minister noted that the government was committed and desirous of participating in the search for knowledge because “we have a lot of resources, we need to find out what the resources are, where the resources are and how to manage them”.

Dr Onu also noted that science and technology were crucial to the future of any nation, adding that the collaboration between both countries would make for a better future for the two nations and the world at large.

Dr Onu also spoke of the benefits of the recently-launched Road-Map of the ministry which he said would help fight and reduce poverty through economic diversification.

In his speech, the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal, Professor Manuel Heitor, said science and technology were important for the future of humanity and a positive link to the next generation, adding that Portugal was happy to collaborate with Nigeria.