The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has assured that the Ministry is intensifying efforts to develop home-grown solutions to tackle Covid-19 pandemic and other challenges facing the nation.
Dr. Onu gave the assurance when he received the Report of The Ministerial Committee on The Repositioning and Strengthening of The Ministry to Effectively Carry Out Its Statutory Charged Responsibilities to the Federal Government, in his office in Abuja on Wednesday.
Dr. Onu further said that one lesson Covid-19 has taught the nation is for Nigeria to think differently and utilize home-grown Science, Technology and Innovation to solve her problems.
Dr. Onu added that Nigerians must begin to develop self-confidence in themselves and appreciate technological innovations produced by Nigerians.
The Ministry, he said will fully implement the recommendations of the committee so as to reposition the Ministry for greater outputs.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Mohammed Bello Umar, had stressed that the mandate of the committee cuts across Health, Agriculture, Infrastructure and many aspects vital to national life.
The Chairman of the committee and Director of Bio-Resources Technology, Pharm. Abayomi Oguntunde said for Nigeria to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’S), the appropriate use of Science, Technology and Innovation must be considered in government policy formulation and implementation.
He said the committee’s report was informed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to lift Nigeria out of poverty, diseases and technological backwardness.
He thanked the two Minister’s for their faith in the committee and the opportunity to serve the country.
