The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has urged manufacturers and stakeholders in the manufacturing and innovation sector to ensure strong regulatory frameworks are deployed, to build confidence and trust in Nigerian goods and services.
Speaking during the 2nd National Competitiveness Consultative Forum for regulatory establishments in Nigeria today (November 2) in Abuja, Onu explained that the forum is a regulatory organ that ensures Nigerian goods and services can favourably compete with their global counterparts.
The minister said the Federal Government aims to ensure cooperation among stakeholders in the sector to ensure reduced production cost and guarantee stability in the supply production chain.
The minister highlighted that some of the benefits of cooperation among STI stakeholders were “a solid foundation for irreversible industrialisation that is inclusive and sustainable for national development, employment generation and creation of our commonwealth, for the good of all”.
Onu assured that the ministry will propel Nigeria into a knowledge-driven economy by building vital institutional structures, human capacity development, veritable policy and the right legal framework to protect innovators like patents.
“Our programmes, especially for research and development, will focus principally on need-based, demand-driven R&D activities. This will ease the commercialisation of research and development results.”
The further urged participants at the forum to come up with solutions to improve regulations, the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) and further Nigeria’s drive towards global competitiveness.
In his opening remark, the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Barr. Mohammed Abdullahi, said the country needs a robust STI ecosystem capable of facilitating the production of made-in Nigeria products and services to meet up with other global competitors.
He further emphasised the consistent vision of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration towards Nigeria to be self-reliant in the area of development and an innovation-driven economy.
Abdullahi also assured the participants of the ministry’s commitment to the outcomes and decisions of the forum which he said would be accorded maximum attention and support.
In a goodwill message, the representative of the British High Commission, Mr. Mammadou Diallo, said the British government was ready to assist Nigeria to achieve her dream of being a knowledge-driven economy.
