…Advocates for made-in-Nigerian security equipment
By Hillary Asemota
The Minister of Science Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has called on Nigerian Scientists, Researchers, Entrepreneurs and Organized Private Operators to submit proposals to access the European Union’s (EU) €95.5bn grant on its Horizon Europe Focus on Nigeria initiative.
According to the Minister, the Horizon Europe work programme 2021-2022 includes about 40 topics with a budget of around €350 million, adding that the Horizon Europe which is EU’s research and innovation programme has a budget of €95.5b for a timeline of between 2021-2027.
The disclosure was made in a high-level virtual meeting between the Minister and the EU Commission on Horizon Europe-Focus on Nigeria on Thursday.
At the virtual meeting, Onu said that scientific research and innovation is important to the realization of a knowledge-driven economic development in Nigeria.
He said the Federal Government will continue to promote cooperation between the EU and Nigeria aimed at finding local solutions to challenges that are global in nature but with very severe impact on Africa.
The Minister described the “EU-Horizon Nigeria” as a strategic partner towards delivering beneficial innovation and research programmes, that will promote sustainable knowledge-driven economic development for growth, job and wealth creation, defence and internal security, infrastructural development and good governance.
Meanwhile, the Minister has said that Nigeria needs to intensify efforts in producing equipment to help fight insecurity and further equip the armed forces.
He made the remarks when he received the report of the inter-ministerial committee on implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Federal Government and Wiseguard Technologies on Thursday.
The inter-ministerial committee comprised of members of the Nigerian Army, Airforce, Civil Defence Corps, National Agency for Space Research Development (NASRDA) and the Ministry of Interior.
Onu maintained in strongest terms that security is extremely vital for citizens living in rural and urban communities.
He assured Nigerians that the current security challenges be-devilling the country are a price for national development, adding that more indigenous innovations will emanate from the security situation.
The chairman of the Inter-Ministerial committee, Dr. Halilu Ahmad Shaba hailed the efforts of all and sundry involved in the committee’s work.
He assured that more efforts will be on deck to further improve the committee’s work.
OTUYEMI ADETAYO, Of the PRESS AND PR UNIT OF THE MINISTRY FILED THE REPORT FOR THE MEDIA.
