The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Adeleke Mamora says Nigeria is the first country in West Africa to adopt the recommendations of the Forum for African Research and Innovation, FARI.
This was made known by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Monilola Udoh who represented the Minister during the South-West zonal dialogue in Lagos state
The dialogue was between the Nigerian government and stakeholders in the Science, Technology and Innovation ecosystem on the establishment of the Technology and Innovation Centres TICs.
In a statement made available by the Ministry’s Assistant Chief Information Officer, Josephine Ademu, the Minister listed the benefits of TICs as;
“Find the best way to ensure that products and services in our country are made to compete with the very best in the world, improve on the present understanding of the role of Science, Technology and Innovation in the socio-economic development of Nigeria by the general public, towards moving Nigeria from resource to knowledge-based economy (consumption to production), reduction/stoppage of the present Research and Development (R&D) work in Nigeria being carried out in silos.”
According to the Minister, Nigeria is geared towards having a diversified, sustainable and competitive economy that will effectively harness the talents of its people and responsibly exploit its natural endowments to guarantee a high standard of living for Nigerians by 2030 under the 2022 Revised STI Policy.
He further stressed that in line with Presidential Executive Order NO.5 STI Policy of 2022 and the Abuja adopted recommendations of FARI, the protection of researchers, inventors and innovators will be assured with appropriate legal frameworks such as issuance of patents and other intellectual property rights.
Adeleke assured the stakeholders that the next phases of the dialogues that will take place in the North West, South South and North Eastern Zones of the Country will continue to support the development of the country’s economy from being dependent on resources to knowledge-based ones.
The National Coordinator, Strategy Implementation Task Office for Presidential Executive Order NO.5, Ibiam Oguejiofor, enumerated some of the objectives of the Order to include; promoting domestic and foreign investments through the creation of employment and stimulation of the national economy through Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).
He further enjoined participants to use the opportunity of the dialogue to respond to the government and participate in building a new Nigeria that is knowledge and production driven.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Science and Technology, Hakeem Fahm, who represented the Director of Science Programmes and Promotion, Iyabo Phillips reiterated the commitment of the Lagos state government to support the initiative of the federal government to fill in the infrastructural gaps in the State and also to give more people opportunities to benefit from the innovation hub.
PIAK
