The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has been inducted into the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) Hall of Fame for his meritorious service as a minister.
Speaking during the induction yesterday in Abuja, the union’s secretary-general, Dr. Theophilus Ndubuaku, said the induction of Onu as the first-ever inductee into the Hall of Fame of ASURI was for his superlative performance as a minister and for being the most labour-friendly minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Ndubuaku recalled that when the minister was ending his first tenure as the Minister of Science and Technology on May 28, 2019, the union joined the ministry’s valedictory session to laud the minister’s superlative performance by making a presentation ‘The Making of a First-Class Minister’, adding that the union is back again to recognise him for his first-class performance as a minister.
Reeling out the minister’s outstanding performance in promoting science, technology and innovation for Nigeria’s socio-economic development, he noted the minister has written his name boldly on the sands of time.
“Nigerian scientists, especially researchers, will never forget your effort and struggle to actualise institutionalised mechanism for coordination and funding research, which has not been in place since independence. When the Bill for the National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC) is passed and assented to and its history is written, your name will be written in gold for the role that you have played and continue to play towards the actualisation. Indeed, as the honourable minister of science, technology and innovation, you are the round peg in the round hole,” he said.
Listing some of the feats achieved under his leadership, Ndubuaku said they include the approval of the Presidential Executive Order No. 5, launch of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) ‘Nigeria SAT 3’ into space, expansion of the ministry’s science week into ‘Techno Expo’ which has attracted many investment opportunities into the country, amongst others.
“All of the above are just some of the factors that have combined to make you the most impactful minister in charge of science and technology since independence and we have no iota of doubt about your qualification for induction into the newly created ASURI Hall of Fame,” he added.
In his response, Onu thanked the association for finding him worthy of recognition and induction into its Hall of Fame, saying the honour will spur him to keep doing his best in pushing for the development of Nigeria’s science, technology and innovation sector.
