President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, said the Federal Government would allocate 0.5 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to research and innovation.
The President made the pledge, yesterday, while declaring open the 2024 Technology Expo tagged: “STI: Solution to National Economic Challenges” at Eagles Square, Abuja.
The President’s pledge came three years after his precedessor, Muhammadu Buhari, made similar promise to the nation. Buhari had, while declaring open the Technology Expo in 2021, 2022 and 2023, said allocating 0.5 per cent of the nation’s GDP to science, technology and innovation would spur development in the country. But the former President’s statement in the three editions of the Technology Expo remained just a promise till date.
But President Tinubu, who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said he was aware of his predecessor’s vision, assuring that he (Tinubu) would actualise it.
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, said over the years, Nigeria had shown promising signs of a bright future by using Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) as a driving force for its abundant natural and human resources.
He said for the potential to fully blossom, the country would need a supportive work environment that would encourage applying the skills gained through STI.
