The Federal Government has inaugurated a 204-member Technical Consultative Committee of the Strategy Implementation Task Office for Presidential Executive Orders 005 (SITOPEO.5).
Speaking during the ceremony today (November 4) in Abuja, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said the revolutionary document, aims to place Nigerian professionals and manufacturers at the centre of the Nigerian Economy.
He charged the committee to find out the problems and challenges preventing all stakeholders, professional bodies, contractors, manufacturers etc., from participating effectively in the Nigerian economy.
The Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Barr. Mohammed Abdullahi, described the Presidential Executive Order No 005 as a novel initiative by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to set the nation on the path of viable and sustainable economic growth.
Abdullahi said the order provides the platform for rapid transformation using science technology and innovation instruments.
“Presidential Executive Order 5 is key to achieving self-reliance, self-sufficiency through local content development in STI, which is the major objective it aims to achieve,” he said.
He further stated that it is also aimed at planning, execution of projects, promotion of Nigerian content in contracts, science, engineering and technology through Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) and the Nigeria Agenda 2050 which are key to achieving self-reliance and self-sufficiency.
The minister charged the designated members to use their skills and experience in achieving full implementation of the Presidential Executive Order 5, as it is one of the tools for transforming Nigeria’s economy from resource-based to knowledge-based, driven by innovation.
Abdullahi opined that the ministry’s recent name is a clear indication of the FG’s commitment to the utilization of science technology and innovation for rapid growth and industrialisation.
He added that the FMSTI will do everything within the law to provide the committee with an enabling environment to succeed in this enormous task.
Earlier, the ministry’s permanent secretary, Mr. Sunday Akpan, thanked the minister for his effort and charged the designated committee members to work towards achieving the mandate entrusted to them.
