The federal government has stated that it will use innovation and technology in all sectors of the economy to accelerate the country’s development.
The guarantee was given by Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, during the unveiling of the ministry’s new logo, vision, and mission statement on Friday in Abuja.
Agriculture, water resources, transportation, construction, health, education, sports, defense and security, financial management, and the fight against corruption, among other sectors, would be influenced by technology from now on, according to Onu.
He stressed that if Nigeria is to get respect and recognition in the international community, all stakeholders must work together with the government to establish a robust economy based on science, technology, and innovation.
Nigeria, he argued, needed to transition from a commodity-based economy to a knowledge-based economy powered by innovation.
According to him : “For our dear nation to continue to have influence in our sub-region, the continent and the world, we must always plan to have a strong economy.
“This means that our dear nation must intensify efforts in diversifying the economy away from total reliance on crude oil.
“Nigeria since our political independence in 1960, has never faced this type of challenge as we are now facing.
“Many countries are trying to move away from the use of fossil fuels. Also, there are countries in Africa and other parts of the world including Brazil, who have discovered crude oil deposits.
“This means that we need to take very urgent steps, as a nation, to prepare for a period when crude oil will not have the importance that it now has in the world.
“We should never forget that some other commodities, had in the past suffered the same fate that crude oil will suffer in the near future.”
The minister , however, underscored the need to re-strengthen and reposition the ministry to deliver on its new mandate and meet the needs of emerging technological advancements of this century and beyond.
Speaking on the essence of the new logo, vision and mission statement introduced by the ministry, Onu said it has become imperative in order to achieve technological revolution in the country.
The new vision of the ministry, according to him, is “To be the foremost National Science, Technology and Innovation Establishment in Africa, comparable with the best in the world.
The Mission statement is
“Total deployment of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in achieving sustainable knowledge-based economy for the nation.
“The logo takes into consideration the FMSTI’s desire for Nigeria to move away from relying entirely on a resource-based economy but to work hard to catch up with the most developed Science, Technology and Innovation nations.
“Hence our actions, plans, programmes, policies and Initiatives will be will be revolutionary in nature.”
Earlier, the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mohammed Abdullahi, said the rebranding of the Ministry would enable it focus more on current technological trends such as nano-technology, smart space technology, biotechnonolgy and diverse new technological trends.
Abdullahi explained that the repositioning and rebranding of the Ministry would fast track the developmental agenda of the present administration as well as shore up the nation’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP).
In his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Edet Akpan, observed that said the rebranding of the Ministry would bring to the fore the ingenuity of Nigerian professionals, scientists and innovators to solve contemporary global issues such as COVID-19 pandemic and security issues currently bedevilling the country and the world at large.
Akpan while commending the leadership of the Ministry for their cutting-edge innovation and leadership, he said that the rebranding of the Ministry would be a spring for Nigeria’s industrial growth and development.
