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Tag: Executive Order 5

  • Minister assures sustainable growth with accomplishment of Executive Order 5

    Minister assures sustainable growth with accomplishment of Executive Order 5

    The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, said Nigerians should support the full implementation of Executive Order 5 for sustainable growth and development of the nation.

    The Minister said this at the sensitisation workshop and the launch of the Complaints and Appeal Procedure of Presidential Executive Order 5 in Abuja on Thursday.

    He recalled that in February 2018 President Muhammadu Buhari signed Executive Order No 5 for the planning and execution of projects, and promotion of Nigerian contents in contracts, science, engineering and technology for Nigerians.

    He said Executive Order 5 was a revolutionary one aimed at mandating procuring entities to give preference to Nigerian companies and firms in the award of contracts in line with the Public Procurement Act.

    He noted that it was also for the engagement of Nigerian professionals in areas where their requisite expertise was available, among others.

    Onu expressed satisfaction that the effect of the Order was already being felt in the country.

    “The University of Transportation, Daura, is one of the products of the Executive Order.

    “Also, as a result of the Executive Order, it became necessary to organise both the first and second Strategy Competitiveness Workshop for various regulatory bodies in the country.

    “This has helped to strengthen the operators of the Small and Medium Enterprises for the good of the country,’’ he said.

    Onu spoke on the need for the country to become self-reliant in the face of an ever-changing world of technology and commerce.

    He was confident that with the abundance of human manpower, Nigeria could develop technologies, find a way to encourage Nigerians to understudy, participate from the beginning and stay along until the project was completed.

    He said Nigeria must acquire the needed technologies that were lacking in the country and use the key of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to unlock a big hub of opportunities.

    He said the Order was unique and in its design the Nigerian environment was taken into consideration adding that it should be sustained beyond Buhari’s administration.

    Earlier, Mrs Monisola Udoh, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said the Order was a child of necessity and its full implementation must be vigorously pursued.

    Udoh noted that she was inundated with the various achievements performed by the task office, most importantly, the sensitisation of all Nigerians on the provisions of the Order.

    “This should not only be sustained but improved upon,’’ Udoh said.

    High point of the event was the induction of the minister into the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions’ (ASURI) Hall of Fame as the most impactful STI Minister since Nigeria’s independence.

    Onu became the first inductee into the newly-created ASURI Hall of Fame.

  • Technology Minister seeks implementation of Executive Order 5

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has harped on the need to implement the Presidential Executive Order 5 (EO5).

    Onu made the call on Monday in Lagos, during the Stakeholders’ Roundtable on the use of Nigerian software in the financial and banking sub-sector of the economy.

    The roundtable was jointly organised by the Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and the Computer Warehouse Group (CWG).

    He said that there was the need to implement the EO5, so as to improve local content in software applications in the country.

    The Minister, represented by Prof. Gloria Elemo, the Director-General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), spoke on the theme: “Adoption and Development of Local Content Technology as Growth Driver for the Nigerian Economy”.

    Onu said that the Federal Government was emphasising on local participation in the execution of government contracts, thereby improving local content in national socio-economic development.

    According to him, the Presidential Executive Orders series started in May, 2017 with Numbers E01, E02; E03 and subsequently EO4, EO5 etc.

    “The Executive Orders are with the resolve to reform the administrative and regulatory environment for both private and public sector players.

    “Specifically, Executive Order No. 5 was signed by Mr President on February 2, 2018 with focus on the development of local content in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET).

    “Mr President directed all MDAs of government to engage indigenous professionals in the planning, design and execution of national security projects.

    “This is with the intention to maximising the in-country capacity and capability in all contracts and transactions with SET components, utilising Nigeria human and material resources in the planning and execution of Nigerian projects.

    “The Order directed that all procurement entities of the FGN shall give preference to Nigerian companies in the award of contracts for major projects in SET and where local expertise is not available, Nigerian company shall enter into consortium with relevant foreign firms,” he said.

    Onu said that specifically, NOTAP played an important role in the implementation of the order.

    The minister said that NOTAP had been managing the consortium of firms that must be registered, in compliance with NOTAP Act 2004.

    He said that NOTAP had been developing, maintaining and regularly updating the database of Nigerians with expertise in SET and other fields.

    According to him, the agency consults with the relevant professional associations/bodies in SET and other fields, including Nigerians in Diaspora organisations.

    “Currently, NOTAP is compiling the database of Nigerian experts in SET and other fields through access to register of government approved professional bodies and associations in the country and in diaspora.

    “I implore you all to register with NOTAP through your respective professional bodies so as to be recognised as professionals in your chosen fields, eligible and accredited to participate in the nation building.

    “Remember that we have no other country to be called our own than Nigeria and it is the resultant of our collective efforts that can make our country great and an investment destination by the international investors.

    “I will give my support to achieve the lofty objectives of the Executive Order Number 5 of Mr President in this endeavour.

    “I am confident that it would be beneficial to our country, generate wealth, stimulate inclusive growths in the domestic economy and reduce unemployment level,” he said.

  • Buhari’s Executive Order 5 will improve local content – Minister

    Buhari’s Executive Order 5 will improve local content – Minister

    The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, says Executive Order 5, is meant to improve local content.
     
    Adamu spoke in Calabar at the 16th International Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), with the theme: Transforming National Economy through Sustainable Civil Infrastructure.
     
    He said that the order empowers procuring authorities to give preference to Nigerian companies and firms in the award of contracts in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007.
     
    “The proclamation of the Executive Order 5 is meant to improve local content and free up more jobs for Nigerians and increase access to procurement opportunities,’’ he said.
     
    The minister who spoke through his representative, Mr Bassey Mkposong, urged professionals to explore inherent opportunities in the executive order.
     
    He said that it has become more expedient for professionals to support the solution to Nigeria’s infrastructural deficit.
     
    “The need for appreciated technology and robust collaboration amongst professionals to address our infrastructural challenges have , more than ever before become imperative,’’ he said.
     
    In his address, Mr Andem Bassey, the NICE national chairman said that the 2018 conference was unique as it promoted unity among two cultures in the country, the Efik and Daura emirates.
     
    The NICE national chairman also stressed that “another unique feature of this year’s conference is the union of two governments- Cross River and Katsina.’’
     
    Mr Adekunle Mokuolu, President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), said that NSE was proud of the works of civil engineering, as the oldest branch of engineering.
     
    Mokuolu, represented by Mr Ekpe Ita, said that civil engineering was a very relevant field of engineering.
     
    “In water supply, food security, transportation, civil engineering remains relevant because in all these, we are called upon to provide the needs of society,’’ Mokuolu said.