Experts in the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) sector will be meeting at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, to discuss the role of STI in grassroots development in Nigeria.
The fora themed “Science, Technology and Innovation Management Forum”, convened by the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), is designed to provide a platform for science, technology and innovation technocrats to brainstorm on topical issues in STI for sustainable development, to enable stakeholders to collaborate and network in the deployment of STI to the key sectors of the economy, to discuss how STI can be used to achieve sustainable and inclusive development at the grassroots, among others.
A statement by NACETEM’s public relations officer, Isaac Oluyi, said the forum will provide a platform where the crucial roles of STI in grassroots development will be examined by relevant stakeholders.
“Grassroots development is one process by which disadvantaged people organise themselves to improve the social, cultural and economic well-being of their families, communities and societies. For quite a while it has not been given the attention it deserves and, even when it is being considered, science, technology and innovation is hardly deployed.
“This, no doubt, has slowed the pace of development at the grassroots and, more often than not, contributes to rural-urban migration, leaving the rural areas largely undeveloped.
“Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) hold the key to the progress and development of any nation. It plays a fundamental role in wealth creation, improvement of the quality of life and real economic growth and transformation in any society. So, it is worrisome when STI is not appropriately utilised and deployed in development, particularly grassroots development,” the statement read in part.
It added that the forum scheduled to hold between November 17 and 18, 2022, at NACETEM headquarters, OAU, Ile-Ife, will have in attendance directors of science and technology in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and other cognate ministries at the state level, STI practitioners in the academia and the private sector, as well as the general public.
