Minister Seeks Domestication of National Roadmap on Science, Technology 

Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation Science and Technology Uche Nnaji has urged Commissioners of the thirty-six states in the country to domesticate the National Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap NSTIR 2017-2030.

Nnaji said that the Roadmap has the potential to unlock the nation’s intellectual and technological resources for growth and diversification of the economy.

The Minister said this in Abuja at an interactive forum with State Commissioners in charge of Science and Technology.

He noted that the enormous potential of the NSTIR in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu is only realizable when effectively implemented at the sub-national levels.

“Domesticating this roadmap is crucial. It involves the collective responsibility of national and sub-national governments, policymakers, academia, and the organized private sector to translate the roadmap into tangible actions that produce meaningful impacts,” he said.

The Minister encouraged states to align their technological advancements with local priorities to provide solutions for region-specific challenges and promote a more robust and resilient scientific ecosystem that fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing.

“I urge state commissioners to actively engage the local industries, research institutions, and community stakeholders. By fostering collaborative partnerships, we can amplify the impact of our scientific endeavours and create a seamless transition from research to application, which will spur economic growth and ensure our technological advancements meet the needs of our citizens,” Nnaji said.

Informing the Commissioners that they are the primary stakeholders in the National Council on Science, Technology and Innovation NCSTI also known as the “National STI Council”, the Minister used the opportunity to announce its first meeting, which he said will take place at the beginning of the next quarter.

The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology, Mrs Esuabana Nko- Asanye said that each state has its unique demographic resourcefulness which if properly managed will foster the culture of innovation at the grassroots level for sustainable development.

“It is pertinent to state that this task before us is a shared responsibility to harness the full potential of sub-national. This is a time that we should think of how to harness our resources and then put in scientific and innovative strategies so that we can compete effectively. All this cannot be achieved if there is no security in our nation. So all of us, we have that responsibility to make sure that Nigeria is secured,” She said.

The Niger State Commissioner of Science and Technology Umar Yabagi said that they will make their contributions at the meeting and then a communique will be issued that will aid the effective implementation of programmes and projects in the STI ecosystem.

Also, the Abia state Commissioner of Science and Technology Chima Oriaku said that the forum has given those opportunities to network after which they will be going home with a full load of ideas to build on.

Dominica Nwabufo