The Nigerian Government has pledged to effectively deploy science and<\/p>\n
technology in addressing the huge developmental challenges facing the
\nnation.
\nSpeaking at a meeting of National Council on Science and Technology, at
\nthe Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on Monday, minister of science and
\ntechnology, Dr. Ogbonanaya Onu, said the neglect of the sector by
\nsuccessive governments has made Nigeria a consumer nation rather than a
\nproducing and an industrialised country.
\nAccording to Onu, “Science and technology and innovation constitute the
\nkey that unlocks the door of prosperity for any nation” emphasising that
\n“no nation has ever become great without them”.
\nHe maintained that science and technology have a critical role to play in
\nsecuring our nation especially in “fighting crime, building the necessary
\nindustrial and military complex that can satisfy the important and urgent
\nneeds of our defence and intelligence community, fight corruption, educate
\nour people and create jobs for our young and old alike,.”
\nThe minister stated further that science and technology can help “create
\nwealth, reduce poverty, increase our capacity to on our own build our
\nroads, generate power, build our railways as well as marine and airport.”
\nOnu said science and technology can also help “treat our sick in our own
\nhospitals, manufacture locally the goods we need, provide the services
\nthat would promote tourism, improve our communication, strengthen our
\ncurrency and above all secure a knowledge based, innovation driven economy
\nthat not only grows but is sustainable.”
\nHe noted that some countries of the world that have no natural resources
\nas much as Nigeria have deployed science and technology to become economic
\nand technology giants stressing that “can we imagine how developed Nigeria
\nwould be, if we can effectively deploy science, engineering, technology
\nand innovation in the efficient exploitation of our abundant natural
\nresources.”
\nOnu lamented that due to the lack of investment in science, engineering
\nand innovation, Nigeria had become essentially “a consumer nation, unable
\nto add value to the numerous raw materials we produce, and hence import
\nnearly all the goods we consume. As a result of this sad development, we
\nexport jobs to other countries, make our economy vulnerable and
\ncontinuously put pressure on our currency, making it weaker and weaker.”
\nHe urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by the enormity of the nation’s
\nproblem borne out of the lack of the adequate employment of science and
\ntechnology noting that “most of the countries that today ranked among the
\nmost technologically developed had similar problems that we now have, at
\nsome time in the past. Whats is important for us is the will to succeed. I
\nwant to assure you that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology is
\ndetermined to help our dear nation overcome her challenges”.
\nWhile pledging the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s
\ngovernment to improving on science and technology in the development of
\nthe nation said the forum which “is designed to provide a platform for
\nexchange of views and cross fertilisation of ideas by members to
\nfacilitate the effective utilisation of science, technology and innovation
\n(STI)” would help in solving many of the problems confronting our nation.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Nigerian Government has pledged to effectively deploy science and technology in addressing the huge developmental challenges facing the nation. Speaking at a meeting of National Council on Science and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39053,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n