FG inaugurates committee on establishment of science data bank

The Federal Government has inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee for the establishment of National Science Technology and Innovation Databank (NSTID), which would stop the country from relying on data from other countries.

The terms of reference given the committee to work on was to study and review already developed concept note on the establishment of science and technology data bank; to develop a framework for the harmonisation of the federal ministry of science and technology’s agencies activities; to develop a questionnaire for capture researchers, bio-data, research and development activities, research and development facilities, workshop facilities, publications, patents and innovations.

Other terms of reference include, designing a protocol for data gathering, data analysis, data validation, data dissemination and data sharing and to draw out an implementation strategy and plan for the establishment of the National Science Technology and Innovation data bank of national statue and global competitiveness.
 
Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu while inaugurating the committee yesterday in Abuja said the bank when established, would help the country in creating jobs, fighting poverty and creating wealth for the nation, adding that the ministry will keep the data for the nation as it concerns all the research and development activities going on throughout the country.

He added that the Science, Technology and Innovation roadmap 2017-2030 if properly implemented in the next five years would save the nation N3.6 trillion, stressing that for too long, Nigeria relied on other countries for data.Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee and Director General, National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) Okechukwu Ukwuoma, lamented that the absence of a data bank has made different institutions duplicate data.