The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna has said that the only long-lasting solution to the present security challenges and other socio-economic problems facing Nigeria is to deliberately build a manufacturing-based economy that could engage the teeming youths of the country.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure NASENI, Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna said this while declaring open the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institution (NASU) regular meeting of the Research and Projects Trade Group Council(RPTGC) held at NASENI headquarters in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.
Prof. Haruna added that all the countries that had recorded economic growth did it through creativity, application of intellect, knowledge, and technical know-how and not from their natural resources.
“Idle hands are devils workshop, it is better to handle any problem right from its roots causes,” Haruna said.
The EVC noted that many of the developed countries of the world had no natural resources but had evolved into enviable economies through investment in research and development or by the discreet use of technologies to explore other nations’ natural resources while the developed countries concentrated on the development of their own citizens’ talents, creative ingenuities, and technical know-how.
Professor Haruna expressed his gratitude to NASU for choosing NASENI to host its meeting.
“This is the meeting of research and development institutions which is the singular solution to insecurity, lack of infrastructure and poverty eradication”.
“All materials for construction of roads, building of infrastructure are based on technical know-how. We can eradicate poverty if we look beyond our natural resources and work with research and development institutions. But NASENI cannot do it alone, we need collaboration and synergy with allied institutions” he said.
He however urged NASU to continue to tow the path of peace in solving
all disputes as it was the only way to get the government to do more than what they promised as well as support research and development projects of their various institutions.
The Deputy President of NASU, Comrade Henry Okoyomon said that the regular meeting, no doubt, would afford the Union the opportunity to rub minds on very topical issues bordering on welfare and well-being of members to improve their standard of living.
On insecurity, he said the current situation in the country was alarming and called on the Federal Government to take drastic measures in addressing the issue and other challenges such as inadequate power supply, bad roads, and the imminent fuel subsidy removal amongst others.
The Chairman of NASU, NASENI Branch, Comrade Tongshaka Nenfot Joel who highlighted the achievements of the Union said the hosting by the NASENI branch was another positive feather added to NASENI as a body.
Nnenna.O