The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has expressed strong conviction that Nigeria will have a Nobel Prize laureate in the area of science and technology in the near future.
Onu gave this verdict when he received the ambassador/permanent delegate of Nigeria to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Amb. Hajo Sani, in his office in Abuja, saying the ministry was working hard to train and inspire young Nigerian students to fully embrace subjects in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and that the young Nigerians would in the future become Nobel Prize laureates in STI.
He said his ministry had also developed policies to encourage female students and improve gender balance, especially in the areas of STEM.
The minister contended that using Nigerian indigenous languages to teach students would help them understand the subjects better and that the feat would help boost creativity and innovation among young Nigerians.
He explained that the ministry had worked closely and cordially with UNESCO over the years, saying many of the its programs and policies were closely affiliated with UNESCO’s activities, policies and mandates.
Onu congratulated Sani on her recent appointment and expressed confidence in her abilities to improve Nigeria’s relations and benefits from UNESCO.
Earlier, the ambassador urged the ministry to review its strategy in popularizing UNESCO’s scientific programmes for the Nigerian scientific community and experts to participate more.
She said the ministry was one of the active and effective front-line ministries, partnering UNESCO in Nigeria.
