By Seun Adams
The National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) has said that arrangement has been concluded to hold it’s 2022 Forum for the regeneration of the energies needed to reset the Science Technology and Innovation (STI) for Nigeria’s economic development.
The 2day brainstorming session will hold from November 17-18, 2022 at Centre’s Headquarters located in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Participants expected at the forum include Directors of Science and Technology in Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, other cognate Ministries at the state level, STI practitioners in the academia, the private sector and the general public.
NACETEM, averred that grassroots development is one process by which disadvantaged people organise themselves to improve the social, cultural and economic well-being of their families, communities and societies.
For quite a while, the Centre said said adequate attention has not really been given the kind of attention it deserves, and even when it is being considered, science, technology and innovation is hardly deployed.
This, no doubt, has slowed down the pace of development at the grassroots and more often than not contributes to rural-urban migration, leaving the rural areas largely undeveloped, it added.
NACETEM Spokesperson, Mr. Isaac Oluyi, in a statement made available to the media said it needs to be stressed that STI holds the key to the progress and development of any nation.
Oluyi said: “STI indeed plays a fundamental role in wealth creation, improvement of the quality of life and real economic growth and transformation
in any society. So, it is worrisome when STI is not appropriately utilised and deployed in development, particularly grassroots development .
“It is in recognition of the critical roles of STI in development that the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), an Agency of the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, has decided to organise a forum where the crucial roles of STI in grassroots development will be examined by relevant stakeholders.”
According to him, the workshop, aptly tagged Science, Technology and Innovation Management Forum, is designed to provide a platform for science, technology and innovation technocrats to brainstorm on topical issues in STI for sustainable development, to enable stakeholders to collaborate and network in the deployment of STI to the key sectors of the economy, to discuss how STI can be used to achieve sustainable and inclusive development at the grassroots, among others.
According to Oluyi, the forum will be livestreamed through Facebook, YouTube, and other social media platforms to enable those who may not be physically present to participate in it.