By Amina Aminu
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has expressed Federal Government’s readiness to collaborate with Italy to harness the transformation power of space development to address critical national challenges in the country.
The Minister said this when the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Stefano De Leo, paid him a courtesy visit on Friday in Abuja.
Nnaji, stated that one of the challenges currently faced by the country is flooding in some parts of the Northern States, adding that proper assessment from the space agency revealed that Loco-Dam in Cameroon has overflown.
He further clarified that the Ministry has taken advantage of space technology to enhance environmental protection and improve efficiency in agriculture to prevent over flooding and herders and farmers clashes in the country.
He stressed that collaborating with the Italian government at this critical period is apt so as to avert flooding as a result of climate change.
The Deputy Director/Head, (Information and Public Relations), Mr. Atuora Obed, in a statement, quoted the Minister as commending the efforts being put in place by the countries of the world to ameliorate the effects of flooding and its attendant challenges faced by many countries and then, urged African countries to work together to harness the natural endowment in the continent.
Earlier, the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Stefano De Leo, said that the essence of their visit is to partner with Nigeria in science and technology through transformative power of space technology and development in order to advance the socio-economic development of the country.
He further stressed the need for Nigeria to take its leadership position in Africa by harnessing both human and natural resources towards advancing technologically, so as to compete amongst comity of nations.
