Federal Govt plans production of raw materials to save N43 trillion in five years

The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology says it has developed a mechanism aimed at production of raw materials in Nigeria to save the country N43 trillion in five years.

Minister Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who disclosed this during an interactive session on the national science, technology and innovation roadmap (2017-2030) with members of staff of the agencies in the South-West geo-political zone in Lagos, said that the ministry is working on a silent revolution that would put Nigeria in a position to create jobs and fight poverty,

He said that the great countries in the world do not have natural resources but are endowed with knowledge-driven economy.

Onu, who maintained that the revolution would ensure that Nigeria utilises her resources and intellectual capacity to add valves to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), said that the ministry had identified raw materials and products that the country can produce.

He said: “In the next 20 years, we want Nigerian firms to compete with American firms for jobs.”

The minister appealed to members of the Academic Union of Research Institute (AURI) to reconsider their ongoing strike and also urged them to educate their members about the roadmap.

He said the ministry is committed in making sure that welfare of workers is given top priority also working to form a policy framework that would move the country from resource-based to knowledge-based innovation driven economy where professionals can help create jobs.

Director of Science and Technology Promotion in the ministry, Mr. Ekanem Udo, said the roadmap would stimulate researchers’ activities and ensure commercialisation of research result for economic development.

According to him, the roadmap would provide a long-term science and technology framework as well as facilitate the creation of knowledge while creating a platform to change the mindset of Nigerians to science and technology.