The Minister of State, Science, Technology and Innovation, Barr. Mohammed Abdullahi, has said that African nations must participate actively in proffering solutions that confront humanity by using tools of science, technology and innovation (STI).
Abdullahi made this known when he received an international delegation of the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) who paid him a working visit in his office in Abuja.
AUDA-NEPAD is an agency comprising of international experts focused on infrastructural and socio-economic development of AU member states.
Abdullahi also stated that there was a plan for focused research on biotechnology, which would be in sync with robotics, STI and the biotech revolution in the world and called on Africans to focus more on funding STI through venture capitalism, as it is the only way out.
He tasked the organisation to help Africa improve on her collaboration efforts, particularly in association with research-based agencies.
Abdullahi further said that the ministry is encouraging young scientists, especially the girl-child to participate in STEM, through the Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Awards (YONSPA), one of its flagship programmes, which has seen the recognition of some notable innovations, like the ‘Smart Bra’ by Bolarinwa Kemisola, among others.
Earlier, the acting project coordinator, AU-NEPAD, Mrs. Justina Dugbazah, said that the purpose of the delegation’s visit was to seek out avenues for collaboration with the ministry.
