We’re intensifying research to find cure for epilepsy, others ― FG

MINISTER of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, on Tuesday, said his ministry was intensifying research to find a cure for epilepsy, as well as improving its drug for effective management of sickle-cell anaemia.

He disclosed this at the Quarterly senior staff meeting with Director-Generals and Directors of the ministry and its agencies in Abuja.

Dr Onu said the ministry was directing its research to help find solutions to prevailing issues in the country, such as the development of solar-powered voting solution by an agency under the ministry, saying the commercialisation of food-supplements and drugs to help tackle other health challenges is in the offing.

According to him: “In no distant future, the cure for epilepsy and other diseases we are researching on would be in the marketplace for commercial use.”

The minister said the ministry was making strenuous efforts to ensure that the nation becomes a knowledge-based economy as Nigeria should be at the forefront in new frontiers of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).

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“It is very important that the ministry directs its research efforts to meet the earnest needs of our nation,” he said.

He, therefore, said the benefits of the meeting were enormous as problems of the agencies would be discussed and shared for possible solutions.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Bako Nabasu, urged the ministry and all its agencies to provide details on the current status of ongoing and completed projects.

He also tasked them to ensure that all requests made by the ministry on their activities be treated with utmost attention.