The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said that the formulation of the STI Policy in 2012 emphasised innovation as a global tool for fast-tracking sustainable development in the country.
Onu, who was speaking while briefing the media on the approved 2022 STI Policy in his office on Tuesday (March 15), in Abuja, said that the country’s commitment to ensuring that research and development engagements are translated into goods and services in the market place is a clear demonstration of plans to move the country to a higher level of development.
He further stated that the effort will go a long way in promoting new business developments and encourage employment generation.
Onu said the ministry, in its effort to reposition Nigeria productively and competitively, inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee with members drawn from ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) and international bodies like UNESCO, to evaluate the 2021 STI Policy’s performance.
Subsequently, he said a task committee has been inaugurated to finalise the 2012 STI Policy review, taking into consideration the lesson learnt from the evaluation report, which finally led to the amendment of documents being validated by stakeholders.
The minister also stated that the revised policy was in reasonable agreement with the objectives of the medium-term development plan (MTNDP) 2021-2025.
Onu stated that the plan was meant to develop and utilise STI policy and to build a large, strong and diversified sustainable economy that will guarantee high-quality life for Nigerians, strengthen the existing relationship between stakeholders through strategy and ensure full implementation of 2022 STI Policy.
In another development, Presidential Executive Order No. 005 has been touted as an interventionist law that could relieve Nigeria of her many challenges.
This was revealed by the national coordinator for Strategy Implementation Task Office for Presidential Executive Order No. 5, Engr. Oguejiofor Ibiam, on the second day of the ongoing Science, Technology and Innovation Expo 2022 in Abuja.
A statement from the ministry deputy director, press and public relations, Afonja Ajibola, said Ibiam promised that the order will create an enabling environment to mobilise local investment, made in Nigeria goods and services, attract more foreign direct investment into the country and ensure economic empowerment of Nigerian professionals, manufacturers and the youths.
Ibiam said once the respective ministries, departments and agencies comply with the order, it will enhance the process of conforming or yielding laws, regulations, standards, agreed terms and conditions of contract, procedures, due process, extant rules etc.
