Stakeholders to boost economy via technology
EVOLVING strategies to boost industrialisation in Nigeria through science and technology formed the thrust of talks among stakeholders who met on Monday in Abuja amid the prospect of launching Nigeria’s Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) next year.
A top official of NIGCOMSAT Limited, Isah Abdulrahim Adajah, told reporters on Monday: “We have recorded several milestones such as the preliminary design review and the critical design review. The programme is at an advanced stage of assembly, integration and test. It is progressing on schedule and would be launched in November 2011.”
Stakeholders in the sector yesterday converged on Abuja to evolve a more realistic and affordable strategy for industrialisation of the country through science and technology.
In convening the special science and technology summit, stakeholders were in agreement that lessons from the experience of other countries in the West and Asia had strengthened the fact that science and technology is what provides the link that connects the various sectors of the economy.
Participants, drawn from research institutes, universities, government establishments and the private sector, lamented the critical challenges facing science, engineering, technology and innovation systems. They, therefore, called for a workable blueprint that would promote commercialisation of successful research results, and encourage demand-driven research and development activities.
After the summit, specific recommendations on how to develop the nation’s science and technology sector over the short, medium and long-term periods are expected to be reached.
Minister of Science and Technology, Prof Mohammed Ka’Oje Abubakar, who set the ball rolling at the summit, regretted that the critical linkage among science, technology and innovation and industries had not been realised.
“The knock-on effect of this is the reliance on foreign sources of even the most basic commodities and services with the industrial manufacturing sector contributing a mere three per cent to the GDP. This is sadly pitched against the background of very useful outcomes of scientific research and development, which if adequately harnessed will, in the least, make Nigeria self-reliant on basic commodities and essential services.
“It is in the supreme recognition of the aforementioned and the imperative of reversing this unwholesome trend that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology in the discharge of its mandated decided to organise this science and technology summit.”
He said: “Indeed, for science and technology to play its role as a catalyst in the aspirations of the present administration to make Nigeria one of the leading top 20 economies in the world by the year 2020, there is a compelling need to ensure effective integration of science, technology and innovation into production of goods and services.”
Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Sentaor Greg Ngaji, stressed that research and development products and services from Nigeria’s research institutes had been found to be of international standard using best practices.
He noted: “It is however pertinent to note that despite the numerous and laudable achievements in the area of science and technology in Nigeria, these achievements have not translated to the desired benefits for our teeming populace.
“I strongly believe that it is time to step up in the area of research and development from the laboratories as well as from pilot stages to full commercialisation so that Nigerians can begin to enjoy the results of our research and development in science and technology.”
He, however, urged the ministry to build the capacity of legislators to enable them better understand the issues in the sector.
His words: “The ministry could achieve this by organising regular workshops and interactive sessions with the legislators. This will also increase our exposure to global trends and ultimately enhance our interventions for the cause of science and technology.”
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