The executive vice chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammed Haruna, has stressed that building a manufacturing economy would provide the needed solution to the many challenges facing Nigeria.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) regular meeting of the Research and Projects Trade Group Council (RPTGC) held at NASENI headquarters today (December 1) in Abuja, he said: “The country is faced with difficult circumstances, health delivery challenges and, worst of all, insecurity. The causes of all these problems are numerous but the singular and most popular solution that has solved this type of problem worldwide is opting for a manufacturing economy.
“Anywhere in the world they are not celebrating their natural resources, they are celebrating their creativity. They are leaders in the world; not because of their commodity or natural resources, but because of their intellect. Some nations have no natural resource to export to any country, yet they use their intellect and creativity and convert the small they get and return to [sell them to those] who lack creativity.
“Where will these solutions come from? Where will the transition of Nigeria into that knowledge-based, manufacturing economy come from? It is from research and production/development,” he said.
The NASENI boss maintained that Nigeria can eradicate poverty by proffering solutions through the knowledge of various skills, collaboration, synergy and working together across the research and development organisations.
“We can eradicate poverty if we look beyond our natural resources and work with research and development institutions. But NASENI cannot do it alone; we need collaboration and synergy with allied institutions,” he added.
He said that the solution to all the problems facing Nigeria is in home-grown technology, integration and reverse engineering, stating.
He, however, urged NASU to continue to tow the path of peace in solving all disputes, as it was the only way to get the government to do more than what they promised, as well as support research and development projects of their various institutions.
In his address, the deputy president of NASU, Comrade Henry Okoyomon, said that the regular meeting, no doubt, would allow the union to rub minds on very topical issues bordering on the welfare and well-being of its members, to improve their standard of living.
He further declared that the current situation in the country was disturbing and called on the Federal Government to take drastic measures in addressing the issue and other challenges, such as inadequate power supply, bad roads and the imminent effect of the planned fuel subsidy removal amongst others.
In his welcome address, the chairman of NASU, NASENI branch, Comrade Tongshaka Nenfot Joel, highlighted the achievements of the union and called the hosting by NASENI branch “another positive feather added” to NASENI’s cap.
