By Dwelleth Morountodun
President Muhammadu Buhar, on Monday commended the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI) in the promotion of the Nigerian economy from resource to Knowledge-based economy using Science, Technology and innovation (STI).
To this end, he expressed his administration’s determination to continue to support the Ministry in order to keep up the momentum of promoting research and development and the global competitiveness of the country, especially driven by its annual STI Expo and exhibition.
According to him, this will no doubt continue to ensure increased productivity and improve the country’s competitiveness in the global economy dynamics.
The President who was represented by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, made the disclosure at the opening ceremony of the 2022 STI Expo in Abuja.
President Buhari, said: “I would like to urge all the Researchers, Inventors and Innovators in the country to leverage on this commitment of my administration to showcase their potentials and talents to the world through innovations that are capable of being commercialised for the transformation of our economy in a sustainable manner.”
He also granted scholarship to the three best students who emerged winners of the 774 Young Nigerian Scientists competition from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to study any Science subject of their choice in any Nigerian University up PhD level in line with Presidential Executive Order No 5.
President Buhari, said the STI Expo, is a platform for bringing our inventors and researchers, scientists, government, academia, private sector and many other stake holders together for the purpose of sharing ideas for Research, Development, Innovation, and Commercialization of research results.
The 2022 Expo, according to him, is remarkable for two reasons, aside the annual award of scholarship to three best students who emerged winners of the ‘774 Young Nigerian Scientists’ competition from the 36 states of the Federation, I also have the opportunity to present to Nigerians, the 2022 Revised National Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation (NSTIP) and commission for the first time in the history of our country the Nigeria Science, Technology and Innovation Television (STI tv@NG), he added.
The 2022 Revised NSTIP, he said is a document which will not only serve as a principal document for the full diversification of the Nigerian economy and be a lasting legacy to both present and future generations of Nigerians for the promotion of a knowledge economy.
The President, added that the STI television will be used for extensive advocacy to inculcate Science, Technology and Innovation as part of our everyday life in the country.
He said: “The two projects to be launched/commissioned today are aimed at Job and wealth creation, as well as increase the number of our youths and women that will be attracted to STI activities.
“We all know that no country has ever become great without Science, Technology, and Innovation.
“This thinking has proven to be correct from what we know about how STI has assisted the economy of developed countries of the world. It is for this reason that the National STI policy of 2022, as approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) mandated the ministry to operate as a platform for collaboration among agencies of Federal Government and State Ministries on STI and as a service Ministry of Federal Government to interreact with all relevant Agencies and organizations, synergizing and promoting the application of STI results in all sectors of Nigerian economy.”