The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, has reiterated the Nigerian Government’s commitment to empowering youths and students through science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The minister committed during a virtual meeting on the Youth and Students Innovation Initiative, held in Abuja, where stakeholders discussed ways of strengthening youth participation in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).
In a press release by the Ministry’s Head, Mrs Pauline Sule said the initiative is designed to provide young Nigerians, particularly students, with opportunities to develop their creative and technological ideas, acquire relevant skills and translate innovative solutions into practical applications that can contribute to national development.
READ ALSO: President Tinubu Targets Nigeria As Global Technology Hub
Speaking during the virtual engagement, Udeh emphasised the importance of creating an enabling environment where young people can identify challenges within their communities and develop technology-driven solutions to address them.
He noted that Nigerian youths and students possess enormous potential in the areas of science, technology, innovation, as well as entrepreneurship, stressing the need to harness their talents for economic growth, job creation and sustainable development.
According to him, the initiative would also encourage young innovators to move beyond ideas by supporting the development, testing and possible commercialisation of innovative solutions.
He said the Ministry would continue to promote policies and programmes that place innovation at the centre of Nigeria’s development agenda, while encouraging young Nigerians to take advantage of emerging opportunities in technology and entrepreneurship.
The Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, on his part, commended the FMIST for introducing the Youth and Students in Innovation (YSI) Initiative, describing the programme as an important platform for equipping young Nigerians with the skills required to participate meaningfully in the digital and knowledge economy.
He urged the selected participants to take full advantage of the training, mentorship and networking opportunities provided under the programme, stressing that innovation should not remain at the level of ideas but should translate into practical solutions to Nigeria’s development challenges.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Murkhtar Yawale Mohammad, said that Nigeria has a large pool of talented young people whose creativity and technological abilities can contribute significantly to economic growth, job creation and national transformation.
He further encouraged the participants to embrace emerging technologies, collaborate and make effective use of the mentorship and training opportunities provided under the initiative.
