The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has described the National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy as an important document that serves as a compass for effective deployment of STI for nation-building.
He made this assertion during the validation workshop on the Draft Revised STI Policy 2022 workshop today (January 27) in Abuja.
“The National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy is important, as it gives direction to every sector of the economy and virtually every segment of our national life. The areas that it covers include human capital development, agriculture, industrial growth, health, environment, energy, space technology, ocean technology, banking and finance, information and communications technologies, women and youth empowerment, job creation, tourism, trade, science acculturation, natural resources management, nutrition, building and construction, national security, nuclear science and technology, sports and recreation, diplomacy, transport management, entertainment, among others,” he said.
Onu underlined the need for Nigeria to catch up with other climes in terms of emerging technologies, underscoring the need for the continuous revision of the policy to help Nigeria fully exploit the potentials of the forthcoming Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Barr. Mohammed Abdullahi, has said that the 2022 Draft Revised STI policy is designed to engender and diversified sustainable economy through fostering an effective National System of Innovation (NSI).
Abdullahi further said that the economy can be diversified by supporting the emergence of new knowledge and skills which facilitates the actualisation of the nation’s industrialisation and all-inclusive economic growth and development in the country.
The minister also added that governments are emphasizing more on the need for sound policies that will contribute to achieving many targets of the SDG.
He further stated that the Federal Government’s National Development Plan of (2021-2025) recognises the need to leverage (STI) to build a knowledge-based economy that is global and competitive.
Giving an overview of the draft revised STI Policy, Prof. Willie Siyanbola, said the objective of the STI policy is to develop and utilise STI to build a large, strong, diversified, sustainable and competitive economy that guarantees a high standard of living and quality of life to the citizens.
Earlier in her goodwill message, national professional officer, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Dr. Enang Moma, which supported the policy review, lauded the minister, the ministry and stakeholders in the sector for coming up with a robust policy which now serves as a model for other African countries to build up their STI sector.
She underscored the need for science to be open, saying most research and development results are left on the shelves because it is not open. Moma further maintained that science must be well funded and communicated to carry the citizens along. Also, she highlighted the need for gender mainstreaming to have an all-inclusive implementation.
