Using Science and Technology to Boost National Economy

From all indications, the Federal Government is determined to foster national development by closing existing technology gaps.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, gave the assurance when he recently featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.

He said that all the agencies under his ministry, particularly the National Office for Technology and Acquisition Promotion (NOTAP), would be fully engaged to fast-track the country’s development, using technological applications.

“We have the national technology acquisition promotion initiative that will close the technology gaps which we have in the country. There are a lot of technology gaps almost in all sectors.

“We have a basket of incentives, some will come from NOTAP, some will come from the Ministry of Trade and Investment and some will come from the Ministry of Finance.
“These are incentives for companies that come into Nigeria, not only to make profits but also to transfer skills that will enable Nigerians to acquire the technology,’’ he said.

The minister said that for instance, the Federal Government, through the ministry, had facilitated the commercial production of high-nutrient biscuits, which were the outcome of a research of Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO)

He said that the government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NASCO Foods Limited, Jos, for the production of high-nutrient density biscuits for the National School Feeding Programme.

According to him, the MoU indicates President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s commitment to fulfilling its campaign promise to provide quality education in the country.

“The MoU was meant to provide a strategic guide for the collaboration between the Ministry of Science and Technology, FIIRO and NASCO Foods Limited on the commercial production of high-nutrient density biscuits.

“The initiative was an innovation of FIIRO for the National School Feeding Programme in the spirit of Public-Private Partnership being promoted by the government.

“This is based on the realisation that an institute on its own cannot make the much-desired impact without collaborating with relevant organisations.

“With this collaboration, jobs and wealth will be created, while the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will be enhanced through the productive sector of the economy,’’ he said.

The minister, however, said that the choice of Nasco Foods Limited for the production of the high-nutrient density biscuit, an innovation of FIRRO, was based on the company’s integrity and experience in the industry. Read more

By Gabriel Agbeja (NAN)