By Frank Momoh
In order to meet the 2050 agenda, which is aimed at robust planning, execution of projects, promotion of Nigerian content in contracts, science, engineering and technology through medium term national development plan as key to achieving self-reliance and self-sufficiency, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and his counterpart State Minister, Barr. Mohammed Abdullahi on Thursday inaugurated a 204-member committee.
The technical consultative committee which is the strategy implementation arm has been tasked to drive and ensure that the Presidential Executive Order No 5 is realizable and implemented.
The Order 5 is hailed as revolutionary document, designed by President Muhammadu Buhari Administration to empower Nigerian professionals as well as manufacturers to take charge of the Nigerian Economy.
At the inauguration ceremony, Onu charged the members to find out from stakeholders, professional bodies, contractors, manufacturers, on all problems and challenges preventing them from participating effectively in the Nigeria economy.
The Minister who described the 204 members of the committee as “Wise Men and Women, urged them to focus on their mandates which include: The overall deepening of a knowledge-based economy that is innovation driven, rapidly transform Nigeria to become an industrialized nation, creation of an enabling environment, so as to mobilize local investment, as well as attract more foreign direct investment and to help achieve economic empowerment of Nigerian professionals as well as manufacturers.
He enjoined members of the committee, to be fully abreast with the details of the Executive Order 5 and ensure that their activities would ensure the full implementation of the EX.05, for the benefits of Nigeria.
The Minister, said government will develop 6 Technology and Innovation Centers (TICs) established by Executive Order 5 in the six geo-political zones of the country to increase productivity and global competitiveness ranking of our country.
The Federal Government will do its utmost to ensure that the Executive Order No 5 is fully implemented as this will help create wealth, reduce poverty and provide employment for our people, he added.
The Consultative committee’s chairman and coordinator, Engr. Ibiam Oguejiofor, said that under his leadership they will adopt a “bottom to top approach” policy, in order to fully tackle the implementation of EX 05. For the benefit of Nigeria.
He assured the Ministry that the committee will work diligently and in line with the rule of law.
In his remark, the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi, acknowledged that the Presidential Executive Order No. 5 is a novel initiative of the present Administration to set the nation on the path of viable and sustainable economic growth and rapid transformation using Science Technology and Innovation instruments/platform.
According to him, the order is key to achieving self-reliance, self-sufficiency through local content development in STI sector, which is the major objective it is aimed to achieve.
The Minister charged the designated members to use their skills and experience in achieving full implementation of the order as it is one of the tools for transforming Nigeria’s economy from resource base to a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation.
Abdullahi pledged that the Ministry will do everything within the ambit of the law to provide the committee with an enabling environment to succeed in this enormous task.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Sunday Edet Akpan thanked the Minister for his effort and charged the designated committee members to work hard to achieve the mandate entrusted to them.
While making his remark, the Consultative committee’s chairman and coordinator, of the committee, Engr. Ibiam Oguejiofor, pledged the committee will work as a team using a “bottom to top approach” policy, in order to fully tackle the implementation of the Executive Order 05 for the benefit of Nigerians and the country.
He assured the Ministers that the committee will work diligently and in line with the rule of law.
