The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, says his ministry is working toward commercialising research findings to encourage the development of Science and Technology for national development.
Onu made the remark in Minna on Thursday while inaugurating a two day workshop tagged: “Nanotechnology: An Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Tool for National Development’’ organised by the ministry for stakeholders.
“I am happy to inform you that the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to securing our nation, growing economy, fostering sustainable and productive industries.
“Government is also committed to providing jobs and creating wealth through building a robust, effective and resilient national system of innovation.
“Our endeavour and commitment shall remain to look inward as a people so as to produce locally, many of the things we now import into the country by commercializing research findings.’’
He said that the policy would be realised through collaboration with the private sector and other relevant stakeholders.
The minister said that the measure would create jobs and wealth thereby eradicating poverty and re-orienting the people toward knowledge based innovative driven economy.
He said that the policy would ensure that research findings materialised and fully implemented.
Onu said that the ministry had put together a National Science, Technology and Innovative Roadmap (NSTIR) from 2017 to 2030.
He said that the responses from stakeholders on the NSTIR would soon be presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval.
The minister said that the workshop aimed at encouraging stakeholders to embrace a new direction where science, technology and innovation would help the country become a world leader.
Earlier, Hajiya Fatima Madugu, Niger Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, appealed to the minister to consider staff of the state ministry in all their trainings on nanotechnology.
“We want to be part of your trainings to build the capacity of our staff in order to help the Federal Government achieve technological advancement,’’ she said.
Madugu said that nanotechnology was science, engineering and technology conducted in a small scale.
“Nanotechnology is about how all fields of sciences such as chemistry, biology physics, material science and engineering can be made small,’’ she said.
TheNewsGuru reports that the workshop is expected to develop a framework for the development and utilisation of nanotechnology in the country.