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Tag: Ogbonnaya Onu

  • FG inaugurates National Steering Committee on Development of Nanotechnology

    FG inaugurates National Steering Committee on Development of Nanotechnology

    The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) on Tuesday inaugurated National Steering Committee on Nanotechnology development to produce policy that would guide Nanotechnology operation in the country.

    The FMST Minister, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu said the committee would need to engage in aggressive public awareness on Nanotechnology in all states of the Federation.

    Nanotechnology is the study and application of extremely small things and can be used across all other science fields such chemistry, biology, physics, material science, among others.

    According to him, Nanotechnology is one of the areas of science and technology that is crucial to any nation’s development due to its multiplier impact on the economy such as in the developed countries.

    “Nigeria at this stage of its development cannot be left on the need to urgently embrace nanotechnology advances because of the inherent benefits the country will derive from its application.

    “This committee is therefore expected to drive the ministry’s desire of providing a comprehensive national Nanotechnology policy and implementation strategies that could serve as reverence and guidelines for national needs and aspirations on deployment of this technology.

    “In the past, the FMST had led in the promotion of cutting edge technologies in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Biotechnology; Space Science Technology and Renewable Energy.

    “These have all enhanced the lives of our citizens through job and wealth. We therefore, intend to take full advantage of this relatively new technology called Nanotechnology, “ he said.

    He urged the committee to attach high degree of importance to the national assignment in order to achieve the aim.

    The minister said the ministry would be ready to receive a workable report at the end of the assignment that would dictate the pace of national development in Nano-Science and Nano-Engineering.

    Responding, the Chairman of the National Steering Committee on Nanotechnology Development, Mr Oyefeso Akinyemi, the Director, Chemical Technology Department in the ministry said the committee would try its best to accomplished its mandate on scheduled.

    He said the committee would play a leading role in putting Nigeria on the world map on Nanotechnology.

    He said the committee would collaborate with MDAs to encourage Research and Development in Nanotechnology in tertiary institutions and research institutes.

     

  • FG to establish science centres in 6 geo-political zones – Minister

    The Federal Government on Friday said it concluded plans to establish science centres in the six geo-political zones of the country.

    The Minister for Science and Technology, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, disclosed this on Friday after assessing the Assumpta Science Centre located at Ofekata Orodo in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo.

    Onu said the move was aimed at sharpening the skills of science students across the nation and other African countries for technological advancement.

    He added that the Science Centre, Orodo, would be equipped and inaugurated soon, indicating that plans were also underway to erect other befitting structures to make the centre conducive for learning.

    The minister stressed the need for science education to the development of a nation like Nigeria and expressed Federal Government commitment toward realising the goal.

    According to him, the pilot project located in Imo will take off with chemistry, while other science subjects such as physics, biology, mathematics will be added to the curriculum in future to give students wide exposure in science.

    Onu noted that Federal Government was collaborating with the Vatican to realise the goals of the
    project.

    He said that a study conducted by the Vatican revealed that the bane of most African nations was traceable to the lack of practical aspects of science.

    He explained that “the Vatican, in the quest to realise this objective, is partnering with Federal Government to enshrine practical aspects of science study in Nigeria and other African countries as
    area of specialisation.

    “The difference between developed and undeveloped countries is science. Scientific knowledge will help to fight poverty and diseases, create jobs and eradicate unemployment.

    “This is a promise made to be accomplished. We will make sure that the dream of the Vatican is realised and Federal Government will fulfill its own side of the commitment.”

    The minister, however, said the admission to the science centres would be based on merit as only the best brains would be selected among students who qualified for intake into the centre.

    An Orodo community leader, Chief Donatus Agogbuo, commended Federal Government for establishing the centre, which he described as a gift from God.

    He pledged the readiness of the community in ensuring sustainability of the centre, saying it would go a long way in equipping students to master science subjects.

    The contractor handling the project, Mr Fred Okeke, said the community was cooperative, which made the work to be completed as scheduled.

    He said the project would stop the migration of youths to other countries in search of laboratory for science studies.

     

  • Nigeria, Iran seek partnership in technology

    The Nigerian Government and its Iranian counterpart on Thursday expressed their willingness to strengthen partnership in technology.

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, and the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Morteza Zarchi, made the commitment when Zarchi paid a courtesy visit to minister in Abuja.

    Onu expressed Nigeria’s desire to consolidate relationship with Iran, especially in the area of technology.

    According to him, both countries have had warm relationship, noting that there is need for the relationship to grow from strength to strength.

    “I must commend you for the good work you have done to promote good relationship between Iran and Nigerian.

    “I also commend Iran for her commitment in using science and technology for nation building.

    “At one of the conferences I attended representing my country in Pakistan, your minister of science and technology told us that Iran as of last year, was investing 1.2 per cent of your GDP in science and technology.

    “ There is that decision to even boost allocation of more resources to science and technology because you understand and appreciate the importance and relevance of science and technology to nation building.’’

    Onu said that Nigeria was also working hard in using science, technology and innovation‎ as tools for nation building.

    The minister said that science and technology would help Nigeria to use its resources more efficiently to create jobs.

    He told the ambassador that Nigeria would be happy to cooperate with Iran.

    Zarchi stressed that Nigeria and Iran were exploring sources of revenue by diversifying their economies to technology and agriculture.

    He said that Iranian investors were interested in partnering with Nigeria in the science sector.

     

  • Sci-tech will make Nigeria 9th largest economy in the world – Minister

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has said if science and technology (Sci-tech) is exploited and harnessed, could result to achieving the projection of Nigeria as the 9th largest economy in the world.

    The Minister stated this on Wednesday after his Ministry had presented the 2017 to 2030 Science and Technology Roadmap to a sitting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Aso Rock, Abuja.

    The Science and Technology Minister after the FEC meeting said the roadmap is aimed at projecting Nigeria to occupy the position of the 9th largest economy in the world by 2050.

    He is hoping that the roadmap will exploit the country’s rich and viable cultural heritage to achieve self-reliance in technology adding that it will be difficult to attain economic height without science and technology.

    “In the road map we also identified all the things that we need to do to place Nigeria in a position; because there are estimates that by 2050 Nigeria will, by purchasing power parity, be the 9th largest economy in the world.

    “But we cannot do this without science and technology.

    “In essence, the difference between the developed nations of the world that are the richest in the world and then the developing countries that are poor, the main difference is science and technology.

    “How do you apply science and technology to nation building?

    “So this roadmap will help our nation to take us to where we should be,” said Dr. Onu.

    He said the country was worried that many primary and secondary school students did not like to study mathematics and science subjects, which, he said, had resulted in the utilization of foreign expertise to do major projects such as construction of refineries, dams, airport, sea port, major roads and bridges.

    He added that if there was anything to do in the country, the tendency was to import. He opined this has lead to the export of foreign exchange, creation unemployment, putting undue pressure on the local currency and aggravating poverty.

    Onu said the roadmap would prepare Nigeria to be a truly great nation where it could use its resources to meet the needs of the nation for self-reliance and self-confidence.

    He noted that the country had a rich science and technology heritage where its ancestors understood their environment and had built long walls in Benin.

    The minister also said the elders also developed a leader industry that was erroneously called Moroccan leader.

    Onu also mentioned the fine artefacts and craft as well as iron technology since 3000 years ago as shown by carbon dating.

    “You can imagine that our ancestors did that and today we are unable to have our own iron and steel being produced in the country.

    “This is to let our young people to know that they have a heritage and that they should aspire to be far better than their ancestors,” he added.

    He explained that the road map intended to integrate the work of investors and researchers as well as link them up with the universities and the private sector.

    He stated that the linkage is important because it is the private sector that takes the innovations up and commercialises them.

     

  • Elections: Science Ministry develops indigenous e-voting machine

    Elections: Science Ministry develops indigenous e-voting machine

    Indigenous Electronic-Voting Machine produced by the Ministry of Science and Technology will address challenges of electoral process in the country.

    Dr Ogbonnaya Onu made this known when he received prototype of the NASENI Solar-powered e-Voting Machine presented to him by Prof. Sani Haruna, the Executive Vice Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).

    According to him, the feat will go a long way in promoting the value of Nigeria among the committee of nations.

    “The electronic voting solution developed by NASENI is the solution to the nation’s electronic issues.

    “It was specifically developed to address almost all the issues and challenges that are being faced by the electoral process.

    “It would be appropriate and beneficial for Nigeria to accept and adopt this indigenous solution in order to increase the credibility of election process,’’ he said.

    The minister also promised that he would present the model to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the model.

    Earlier, Haruna explained that the prototype had additional security features and unique serial numbering and identification for ballot boxes.

    He added that the new voting procedure called re-modified ballot system could only use persons with integrity as collation and returning officers.

     

  • ‘Come home and be billionaires’ FG tells Diaspora Nigerians

    The Federal Government has called on Nigerians in the Diaspora to return home and seize the various economic opportunities to make billions of naira.

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu made the call at an investment forum organised in New York by his ministry for Nigerians in the U.S.

    Onu explained that various investment opportunities currently existed and were waiting for them at home, challenging them to take it before they were given to foreigners.

    The former Governor of Abia from 1992 to 1993, informed the Diaspora Nigerians that various research products with opportunities to yield billions of naira, were waiting for them at home.

    “We are asking you to come and be billionaires. That is what we are asking you, not millionaires. Come and make billions.

    “We will give you products of research at nothing or little cost to you because it would be nice for the agency that has done this research to get some little returns.

    “It would also be nice for the scientists, engineers who were involved in doing this research just to get something, that’s all but it would be very small.

    “So we give it (research products) to you, knowing that you will keep the money in Nigeria, you will help employ Nigerians and you will help to grow our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    “That is our interest; that is the reason why we are here,” the minister said. Onu, who was the National Chairman of the defunct ANPP, explained that the agencies under the ministry had already developed the research products through various stages of tests and trials.

    According to him, we are asking Nigerians in the Diaspora that think home, come and take the researches that we have done . “We have taken them to a level where you can now immediately convert them into products, make money out of it; that is the message.”

    The minister, who returned to Nigeria from the U.S. in 1981, said as a policy, researchers would not be involved in the commercialisation of the research products to enable them concentrate on innovation rather than money.

    He said that one of the agencies under the ministry was already working on a cure for epilepsy and was only awaiting the final stages of trials by the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    “We are working on a cure for epilepsy; there is a drug that one of our agencies is working on, it is being tested now. “And we know that epilepsy is a disease that is worldwide and this agency will not on its own commercialise this drug.

    “For NAFDAC to give its approval, there are so many stages of trials and tests that the drug has to pass through. “But at the time that it must have satisfied all these conditions, we don’t want our researchers to go into commercialisation.

    “Because if we do that, they would no longer continue with research; everybody would prefer to go and make money,” he said.

     

    (NAN)