The Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Ogbonnaya Onu, on Tuesday charged the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE) to strengthen its efforts toward diversifying national economy.

Onu, who gave the advice when he received a team from the Academy at his office in Abuja, added that such effort would help the present administration to realise its main objectives.

“We import nearly everything we need in this country; Nigerian Academy of Engineering should work harder for us to import less by making Nigeria a producer instead of consuming state,’’ he said.

He urged NAE to help Nigerians by facilitating provision of affordable locally made building materials and complete solar cell panel with low cost.

Onu told the team that the ministry was also ready to assist the academy to effectively discharge its responsibilities to collectively uplift the nation.

Earlier, the President of NAE, Prof. Isola Salawu, told the minister that the academy was ready to strengthen its strategic partnership with the ministry to promote Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation (SETI) in the country.

“Also, to provide input and leadership in national technological issues and policies at the highest level possible through contributions to SETI ideas in Nigeria and, by extension, globally.

He described the academy as a think tank for Engineering and Technology in Nigeria with focus on researches and studies across the field of engineering.