Governor-General of Canada, Ms Julie Payette urged Nigerian students to develop interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Payette gave the advice when she addressed students from various Secondary Schools in Abuja at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) on Monday.
She said that with determination, hard work and right plan, the students could excel in any of their chosen careers in STEM.
She said that Canada would strengthen its relationship with the Federal Government, especially in the area of space technology.
“Canada has gone far in space research and the feat has added value to the country.
“Nigeria will definitely benefit from our space knowledge, “ she said.
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, said the Federal Government was ready to partner Canada to fasten the pace of technology and other Canadian technologies that could fast tract development in Nigeria.
Onu said that Payette was a great achiever before becoming general governor of Canada.
“Before becoming Governor General, Julie was an astronaut, engineer, scientific broadcaster and corporate director.
“From 1992 to 2013, Ms Payette worked as an astronaut and flew two time mission in space.
“She also served many years as Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) at NASA’s Mission Control Centre in Houston, Texas, and Chief Astronaut for Canadian Space Agency,’’ he said.
NASRDA Director-General, Seidu Mohammed, said that Payette was well respected for her work in developing policies to promote science and technology.
Payette also visited Africa University of Science and Technology to (AUST), where she urged Masters and the PhD students in be proactive in innovation and creativity.
The Governor-General of Canada, is also expected to inaugurate the Lagos State Bio-security Laboratory located at the Mainland Hospital in Yaba on Tuesday.
Tag: Ogbonnaya Onu
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Payette urges more Nigerian students to show interest in STEM
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FG, UAE to partner on Artificial Intelligence technology
The Federal Government on Monday said it would collaborate with United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in Nigeria.
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology made this known when he received the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Obaid Mohamed on Monday in Abuja.
According to him, contributions from UAE will fast track development of Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria.
Artificial Intelligence is a branch of computer science that deals with the simulation of intelligent behaviour in computers.
It is the ability of a computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.
The term is frequently applied to the project of developing systems with the ability to reason and discover meaning among others.
Onu said that developing AI in the country would make Nigeria to take its rightful place among the comity of nations.
Earlier, Mohamed said that UAE had started producing AI for a long time, adding that the country would be happy to collaborate with Federal Government in establishing production of AI in Nigeria.
He added that UAE would further partner with the Federal Government on renewable energy to improve energy creation in Nigeria.
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Buhari approves agency for robotics and AI for South East
Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu said President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of an agency on robotics and artificial intelligence(AI) for the South East.
Onu revealed this at a grand rally of the All Progressives Congress in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi state. The rally which received defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party, was attended by the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.
Some of the defectors who were received include, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji, former Minister of Power and Steel, Chief Goddy Ogbaga, former Secretary to the State Government, Bernard Odoh and former attorney general and commissioner for justice, Chief Augustine Nwankwegu.
Onu told the rally that in 2015 he pleaded with South-East not to put its eggs in one basket but his pleadings fell on deaf ears.
“In 2015 I pleaded with the zone not to put our eggs in one basket. Today I want them to compare the 16 years of PDP and relate it with just 3 years of APC.
“The three years of APC is greater than the 16 years of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); the second Niger bridge is nearing completion, the Enugu – Port-Harcourt and Enugu – Onitsha highways are in various levels of completion,” he said.
“The time has come for the South East to be in the mainstream of Nigerian politics by voting for President Buhari and APC in 2019”.
APC chairman Adams Oshiomhole said that the current security challenge in the country was devoid of religious or ethnic colouration.
Oshiomhole therefore urged Nigerians not to allow themselves to be deceived by the antics of selfish politicians in the country who are trying to give the security challenges in the country an ethnic colouration to score cheap political points.
According to Oshiomhole, there is a plot to paint the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in bad light by portraying all the killings in some states in the country as the handiwork of herdsmen.
“Let me urge you to be more careful because in this season people are spreading untruth. People are being hired to turn the gospel upside down. They want us to believe that every problem should be explained in ethnic and religious terms.
“We have a problem and we must confront those problems. Criminals must be dealt with individually as criminals. Government at all levels must work hard to protect every Nigerian regardless of tribe or religion, ” he said.
He said Buhari and the security agencies are working hard to put an end to the security challenges facing the country.
Oshiomhole urged the people of the South-East to vote for APC and President Buhari in the 2019 general election as he has delivered democracy dividends to the zone.
” If Buhari has remembered the South-East which did not give him more than 10 percent in 2015, imagine what he will do if you give him 85 per cent in 2019″.
Former Governor of Abịa State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu said the new River Niger bridge, which the PDP could not construct in 16 years, has now reached 53 per cent completion.
According to him, the South-East will give the President and APC majority of its votes in 2019 in appreciation for all the projects and democracy dividends he has given the zone.
The rally earlier scheduled to hold at the Pa Oruta Ngele Stadium Abakaliki was later moved to a a playground near the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway following the refusal of the state government to grant the APC permission to use the stadium.
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National security: Onu calls for strengthening of science, technology
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has called for dialogue between policymakers and scientists as well as boosting federal support for science and technology to improve national security.
Onu made the call on Thursday during a lecture he delivered at the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) II of the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) in Abuja.
The minister said a boost in support of science and technology will go a long way to aid national security.
He explained that such effort would naturally enhance stability among various ethnic groups to maintain national pride.
According to him, vision, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of the science and technology community is what the nation needs to overcome challenges arising from cultural diversity.
“ This will promote national security and help in combating insurgency and other conflicts.
“Reinforcement of the dialogue between policymakers and scientists as well as boosting federal support for science and technology is crucial to our national security and the prosperity of our nation.
“The scientific and technological communities of our country need to play a big role in building the new Nigeria.
“We know a new Nigeria is coming, a country of greater peace, stability, unity, prosperity, security and freedom for the good of all.
We have to start working for it. We will never get tired until we achieve it, “ he said.
Onu said variety and nature of cultural values depend on citizens’ actions which impact either positively or otherwise on national security.
He said the linkage between culture, science and technology was strong and could create new jobs and wealth.
The minister also stated that diversity in cultures could provide an opportunity of boosting national economy through promotion of tourism.
He said Nigeria, with over 500 ethnic groups and varied values, had challenge of efficiently managing diversity to promote national security.
Onu said the UN 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showed dynamics in cultural values that were generally and basically driven by science, engineering and technology.
According to him, in order to domesticate attainment of these goals through science, engineering and innovation for sustainable national development and security, President Muhammadu Buhari approved Executive Order No.5 on Feb.2.
He said the Executive Order No.5 would promote and strengthening of Nigerian content in all procurements that had science, engineering, technology and innovation components.
“The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology serves as the national focal point for the implementation of the Order.
“Indeed, Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of Federal Government has recognised science, engineering, technology and innovation as the instrument for diversifying economy as well as attainment of socio-economic development and national security,“ he said.
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Science, technology keys to overcoming challenges of food insufficiency – Onu
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, says science and technology holds the key to overcoming challenges of food insufficiency in the country.
Onu, represented by Mr Bitrus Nabasu, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said this in Abuja during the the 2nd edition of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Nigeria Media Award 2018.
Onu said scientists must be encouraged to continue to work for the good of the country and the people.
He noted that Nigeria has 16 research institutes with the mandate to improve on various crops.
“These institutes must be encouraged to carry out their mandates in order to ensure that the country attains self-sufficiency in quality food production.
“Our primitive agricultural practices are facing various challenges and from what we are seeing all over the world, science and technology hold the key to overcoming these challenges.”
According to the minister, globally science and technology are shaping development and the way people think and act.
He said that the Federal Government recognised this hence the recent decision to increase funding for research and development in the country.
Onu said government had also demonstrated in time past its determination to make science and technology the hub on which the wheel of development resolved.
“The coming together of scientists and journalists is crucial for fast tracking our national development.
“I want to extend a hand of fellowship to the media today; your role as society watch-dog is recognised by the constitution.
“Therefore, you must work with our scientists to ensure government emphasis on the need to use science and technology as the bedrock for attaining our development is achieved.’’
On his part, Prof Alex Akpa, the Acting Director-General, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), disclosed that the first homegrown genetically modified crop, Bt cotton, was released in the country on July 26 .
“We all know the impact this development will have on our moribund textile industry.
“As a government agency charged with the promotion of modern biotechnology, we call on the media to work closely with us in our efforts to ensure that technology is successfully deployed in all spheres of our agriculture.”
Akpa said other countries of the world had moved on to more advanced form of modern technology including gene editing, among others.
He expressed dissatisfaction that Nigeria was still debating genetic modification, a technology that is over 25 years old.
“We can’t re-invent the wheel; we have to move with the times; the era of hoe and cutlass farming is over; that is the reality the media need to educate Nigerians on.”
In her remark, Mrs Nkechi Okoronkwo, Managing Editor, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who was among the panel of discussants at the event, noted that journalists play a key role in nation building.
Okoronkwo said no society can survive without journalists, adding that it was very important that scientists worked with journalists in order to publicize and popularise their research efforts and findings.
“Journalists are bridge builders; when scientists partner with them, anything done in the laboratories will be made known to the society,” she said.
Earlier, Dr Rose Gidado, OFAB Nigeria Coordinator, said the award was initiated in 2017 by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation across seven countries hosting OFAB chapters.
Gidado said the award had brought the media closer to OFAB in their efforts to change the orientation of farmers to embrace genetic modification technology.
“Today, we are celebrating the contribution of distinguished media practitioners to our advocacy and sensitisation efforts.
“It is giving honour to whom it is due. The media has been our main ally since we set out to promote modern biotechnology in the country.
NAN reports that the OFAB award were in the categories of print, radio, television and blogging.
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Science ministry doles out N43.5m to 121 inventors, investors
The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) has given N43.5 million to 121 inventors and investors that are winners of the Presidential Standing Committee on Invention and Innovation (PSCII).
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of FMST, who gave the grants to the winners on Tuesday in Abuja, said the grant indicated recognition of creativity and hard work for the year 2017.
Onu urged the winners to obtain patents for their prototypes as a means of protecting their intellectual property.
“I am very happy that this year, I am witnessing what we have now made an annual ceremony of recognising creativity, inventiveness and innovation among Nigerians, particularly in the informal sector of our economy.
“By transforming your idea into either a product or a service in the market place, it will become more self-reliant by reducing importation of goods and services from other countries.
“It is important that your intellectual property is protected. If you have any problem in doing so, one of the agencies under the supervision of FMST, the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) can assist you,’’ he said.
According to him, the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is committed to fighting and reducing poverty in the country through National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).
Onu said that the grant award ceremony was important in creating entrepreneurs that could in turn create jobs.
In his opening remarks, the FMST Permanent Secretary, Mr Bitrus Nabasu said Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) played a big role in the informal sector by fostering research, development and innovation that led to new products and new markets.
Nabasu said PSCII was created in the quest to encourage indigenous investors/innovators that had uncommon ingenuity that could have positive impact on the Nigerian economy.
“The PSCII was inaugurated in 2005 by the then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to encourage invention and innovation in technology.
“ Also, to examine any research claims, commercial level and suggested how funds be sourced to finance the various stages of development from inception to prototype and finally to commercialisation.
According to him, 590 applications were received across the six geopolitical zones after advertisement for year 2017 award.
He said members of PSCII did verification and the applications were screened by the Technical Sub-Committee (TSC) by utilising Operational Guidelines of the PSCII.
“TSC thereafter selected 121 inventors/investors for the 2017 PSCII Grant award. The winners were grouped into three categories.
“Category one has 24 numbers of awardees with an award grants of N500, 000 per awardee.“Category two has 54 awardees with an award grant ranging between 300,000 and 400,000 per awardee while category three has 43 awardees with an award grant of between N200,000 and N250,000 per awardee,“ he said.
The Senate Committee Chairman on Science and Technology, Prof. Robert Boroffice, commended the effort of FMST to drive Nigeria’s economy through the development of STI.
He said that government would continue to render support to encourage indigenous innovators in the nation.
“The Federal Government is set to further strengthen policy on utilisation of available local raw materials for speedy economic growth and infrastructure development,’’ he said.
PSCII was set up by President Olusegun Obasanjo and inaugurated by the Minister of Science and Technology in October, 2005.
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Onu inaugurates NASENI’s N354m Technology Orientation Centre in Abuja
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, says science and technology is the key that will enable Nigerians to become the true masters of their own destinies.
Onu said this on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Technology Orientation Centre (TOC) built by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in Abuja.
He said that “no country has ever become truly great without science and technology”.
He said the building of the centre showed that science, technology and innovation could drive Nigeria’s search for a new beginning.
“It shows that when challenged, Nigerians can break new frontiers and create new opportunities that will move Nigeria away from a resource-based to a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy,” he said.
“I believe that if we pay greater attention to innovation and vigorously pursue the conversion of research findings into viable goods and services, we can recreate the middle class, strengthen the Naira and secure a better future for ourselves and generations yet unborn,” he said.
The minister said the centre would help the entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators gain greater access to the necessary processes that would fast track the commercialisation of inventions using indigenous technologies.
“This will help create jobs, create wealth, reduce poverty and stimulate growth in the economy.
“This will enable us develop the skilled human resources that will stimulate research and development as well as drive the new National Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap (2017 to 2030) necessary to help diversify the Nigerian economy for sustainable growth,” he added.
The Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Haruna, said that the centre, which was conceived in 2013, was built at with over N354 million.
According to him, the TOC houses 700 collapsible seat capacity multipurpose auditorium, multimedia facility, exhibition hall, virtual reality workstation, offices, car park, among others.
He described the centre as a national resource to serve as a hub for gathering, displaying and assessment of the brightest of minds, innovation and products specifically from new and emerging technologies.
Haruna said it would also determine their relevance to the economy and design a path to adopt and infuse them into the economy.
He said the centre was dedicated to providing budding entrepreneurs, academics, researchers and investors with enabling environment for interactions, design, application and exhibition of advanced manufacturing technologies with their accompanying products and services.
“To us, it is a meeting point between arts, creativity, science, engineering, technology, innovation and prosperity,” Haruna said.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Robert Boroffice, commended NASENI for the feat.
Boroffice, who assured the agency of the National Assembly’s support, said if the country failed to fund science, technology and innovation adequately, “we are going nowhere”.
“We are good at consuming and not producing. Therefore, it is high time we put in place both intellectual and physical infrastructure to produce locally,” Boroffice said.
The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, described science, technology and communications as Siamese twins that rely on each other.
Shittu said though NASENI had remained relatively silence on its achievements over the years, he was impressed by the quality of its products.
He urged the agency to ensure that it integrated local innovators and inventors in its system toward adding values to the laudable effort.
“I also want to challenge you because during the civil war, we had so many innovators in the east and it looks like after the war they were forgotten.
“I think NASENI needs to look for these great minds that can add values to what the agency is doing,” Shittu charged.
The minister, who expressed regrets that common tooth picks were still being imported into the country, said: “these are things that ordinarily should be produced locally”.
“Mr President has given charge that we should produce whatever we consume.
“I commend the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for drastically reducing the percentage of rice and fertilisers imported into the country to just 10 per cent,” he said.
He, however, urged NASENI to ensure that basic items consumed in the country were produced locally.
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Encourage children to take up career in sciences, Minister urges parents
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has advised parents to encourage their children to take up career in sciences.
Onu gave the advice while receiving the delegation of Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN), led by its Chairperson, Mrs Joy Umunna-Nwaigwe on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said it became imperative for parents to encourage children to take up career in sciences to fast-track gender balance in the profession.
The minster also urged professional women engineers to deepen their efforts as role models to young girls in the tertiary institutions to redress gender imbalance in the engineering profession.
He said the on-going Expo 2018 was meant to sensitise Nigerians on the importance of science and technology and its link to communications, public works, industry, agriculture, health among others.
The theme of the expo is “Fast-Tracking Sustainable Development of Nigeria through Science and Technology’’.Onu urged the association to use the opportunity of the Executive Order five recently signed by the president, to enhance its leverage in the engineering profession to compete for jobs in Nigeria and overseas.
The proclamation entitled ”Presidential executive order 5 is meant for planning and execution of projects, promotion of Nigerian content in contracts and science, engineering and technology.
He said the ministry would strengthen its collaboration with serious minded scientists and other professionals, including APWEN, to move the country forward.
“Nigeria will not be able to build a virile economy until there is a visible shift from commodity-driven to knowledge and innovation driven economy,’’ he said.
Onu commended the members of the association for attaining prominent positions in their various vocations.
Earlier, Umunna-Nwaigwe appealed to the ministry to partner with the association to promote its Science, technology Engineering and mathematics (STEM) and biomedical engineering projects.
She said that the aim of the association was to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of technology in Nigeria.
The chairperson, however, urged government to equip science laboratory in various rural areas of the country.
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Tech development: World Bank approves additional $3 million for Nigeria
The Federal Government on Monday said the World Bank has approved additional financing of $3 million to stimulate global competitiveness of raw materials for a diversified economy in Nigeria.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated this at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Technology and Innovation Expo in Abuja.
The World Bank had in the first tranche supported a batch of innovations with about $3 million.
According to him, “the Federal Government plans to strengthen the technology and innovation ecosystem by supporting the development of new innovation hubs in partnership with the private sectors, and this is well on course.
“We have recently concluded a competitive selection process of private sector entities that will implement and manage the hubs. Each of these hubs will focus solely on the market challenges peculiar to the region of the country in which each is located.”
Osinbajo urged all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to align and ensure that the lofty intent of the recently signed presidential Executive Order for supplying and execution of projects and programmes, especially in the area of science, engineering and technology, are met.
“Science and technology are key instrument of the realisation of the objectives of our National Economic and Growth Plan (NERG) 2017-2020.
“Our goal of moving the Nigerian economy away from a resource-based to a knowledge-based model is one that we must take seriously and the ERGP is a step in that direction.
“Innovation will create jobs, it will attract investment, it will boost export, it will grow our economy. These are part of the positive impacts that it will have on our image and perception around the world,” Osinbajo said.
On his part, Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, revealed that patents for research findings, which were processed through the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), increased from 16 in 2016 to 50 by the end of 2017.
“This is a clear evidence of a remarkable improvement in the level of innovation in Nigeria. It shows that it has become an important instrument to drive the role of research in the commercialization of goods and services for the happiness of our people,” Onu said.
He implored the private sector and stakeholders to unite to further science and technology in the country.
“I am confident that with all hands on deck, we can build a stronger family that will be united in the common pursuit of deepening the depth and broadening the reach of Science, Technology and Innovation in our economic diversification process, especially in a fast changing world,” he said.
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FG to commercialise research results toward industrialisation
Federal Government on Friday in Abuja said it would deepen efforts toward commercialising research results for industrialisation of the nation.
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology made this known at a news conference on the forthcoming Technology and Innovation Expo 2018.
Onu said such effort was needed to promote Nigeria from the comity of developing nations to the group of developed countries in a short while.
He expressed optimism that the outcome of the expo would play a major role toward national sustainability.
“The event will encourage interactions between researchers and investors with a view to commercialising research results, inventions and innovations from Nigeria’s research and tertiary institutions.
“The Expo 2018 will facilitate growth of indigenous manufacturing hinged on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) as well as generally promoting STI culture in Nigeria.
“It will also fast track the implementation of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Road Map of 2017 to 2030 to bring to fore the capabilities of Nigerian scientists, engineers, and inventors/innovators in contributing to economic diversification of Nigeria,’’ he said.
The minister said the 2018 edition of the Technology and Innovation Expo would feature exhibitions of research and development results, inventions, innovations, STI Products/Services.
Others are researchers/investors forum, technical sessions on emerging issues, Special Days for states, conglomerates, awards of prizes, certificates to outstanding exhibitors and researchers.
According to him, the theme of the Expo 2018 will be “Fast tracking Sustainable Development of Nigeria through Science and Technology“.
The expo will hold from March 5 to March 9.
Onu said the success achieved at the last edition of the expo from April 3 to April 7, 2017 had further spurred the interest of the investors to commercialise research and development results to aid diversification of the economy.
He said this year’s expo would build upon the objectives of the previous one.
The minister said that the objectives of this year’s edition would include follow-up on memorandum of understandings signed as a result of the last expo and promoting collaborations among research institutions and researchers/inventors.