Buhari seeks international support for Nigeria’s technological growth

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the international community and friends of Nigeria to lend their support in his administration’s efforts at making the country a leader in technology in Africa.

The President made the statement on Monday in Abuja, in a speech read on his behalf at the opening of the Tech Expo. The exhibition is being organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The minister, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, read the President’s address.

The President also used the occasion to call on the citizenry to buy made in Nigeria products, while inviting investors and entrepreneurs to partner with researchers in order to encourage indigenous products.

“Investors who are willing to do technology transfer will be encouraged”, the President said.He described the exposition as a platform for interaction among researchers, inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs in order to convert research works into viable products.

Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, Beni Lar, noted that the low ranking of Nigeria in the area of science and technology has prevented it from using fully its natural resources.

“Even the petro-chemical industry we bask in the euphoria of Nigeria’s greatness, because of low science and technological development, we are yet to maximise our potentials in it,” she said.

She urged increased investment in the sector so that Nigeria is not left behind as the rest of the world grows rapidly in science and technology.She assured that both chambers of the National Assembly are making efforts to enhance funding to the ministry as well as ensure improved budget releases. This she said is to combat the ministry’s funding challenges as they affect infrastructure decay among others.

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Odigie Oyegun, commended the ministry for organising the exposition. He said no nation can be truly great without science and technology, and that Nigeria had the potential to attain greatness in the sector.