The Overseeing Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr Idowu Afe, says if Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) are properly deployed, Nigeria can attain self-reliance and enhanced national security.
Afe spoke at the meeting of the National Council for Science Technology and Innovation (NCSTI) in Abuja on Monday.
The meeting has as its theme “Achieving Nigeria’s Global Competitiveness through the application of Science, Technology and Innovation”.
He said that technology was the cornerstone of progress and the basis of advanced development which Africa was in dire need of in order to move the continent to a higher level.
Afe disclosed that the ministry’s new mandate was to facilitate the deployment of STI in order to enhance the socio-economic development of the country.
The permanent secretary stressed that the country would make a difference in economic diversification by nurturing indigenous technology and creating new technology that would help improve productivity.
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He said several policies had been developed by the ministry to drive STI, which would be implemented through the collaboration of state governments.
The permanent secretary maintained that the aims and objectives of these policies focused on the commercialisation of research done by investors and inventors.
He added that the innovation agenda of the ministry would be driven through the strategic implementation of Executive Order 5 and the development of policies focused on effective competitiveness.
Afe noted that this would lead to the attainment of the circular economy, skill development, health services, security, emerging market among others.
(NAN)
