By Sylvester Thompson
Dr Adeleke Mamora, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation(STI) said the national policy on welding policy approved by the Federal Executive Council in October would facilitate ship building and quick industrialisation of the nation.
The minister said this in Abuja on Tuesday at a media briefing on the activities and programmes of the ministry since his assumption of office in July 2022.
Mamora said the policy would promote and enhance local content and offer vast opportunities for Nigerian professionals in the marine sector, oil and gas, as well as domestic and industrial areas.
Highlighting the achievements under his five months tenure, he said it all started by urging all management and staff to imbibe the five C’s principles.
Mamora listed them to include cooperation, collaboration, coordination, communication and cordiality.
He said his ministry via the National Office of Technology Acquisition and promotion (NOTAP), developed and deployed indigenous software to enable Nigeria have data base of Nigerian professionals in diverse fields.
He recalled that this was enshrined in the presidential Executive Order No 5 and was launched in Kano in November.
Mamora said that this data base was imperative as hard working Nigerians have penetrated all walks of life, doing very well and there was need to reach out to them around the globe.
The minister disclosed that the ministry, through the National Space Research and Development Agency(NASRDA), via a Public Private Partnership(PPP), had made arrangement for a planetarium and broadband facilities, among other projects.
According to him, these would increase the development of research and development within the triple helix structure, as well as create employment in the country.
Mamora further said that NASRDA has commenced the process of designing and construction of RC helicopter which would be used to combat insurgency and other national needs.
The minister said Intelligence gathering was also one of the reasons Nigeria put satellite in space so as to monitor the movement of individuals from one place to another.
“The ministry, through the Project Development Institute (PRODA) at Enugu, produced a six cylinder IC Engine component for automobile industries and this has reduced importation and increased foreign exchange earnings for Nigeria.
“Also, through the PRODA, the ministry established a metallurgical and materials engineering testing laboratory to enhance research and development in Nigeria in line with global best practices,’’ he said.
Accordingly, Mamora also gave highlight on the validation workshop on National Technology Action Plan on Technology Needs Assessment on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation held in October.
He spoke on the construction of science laboratory in Local Government Areas in Ebonyi, with ICT infrastructure provided which were necessary for promotion of STEM learning.
“The ministry, in collaboration with Imo and Oyo states empowered over 200 Nigerian youth in various low hanging fruits of bioresources in the country in Aug 2022,”Mamora said.
He said this created job opportunities and reduced youth restiveness across the country.
Mamora added that there was also a ministerial retreat to brainstorm and fashion out strategic plans for enhanced STI activities towards achieving the ministry’s goals.
He said the ministry had a review of the Strategy Implementation Plan and goals execution plan on Methanol Fuel production Technology In Aug. 2022.
“Methanol Fuel is an alternative source of fuel which we are pursuing very vigorously,”he said.
The minster touched on science laboratory equipment for the upgrading of multipurpose science laboratory from level 0ne to level three, carried out through the Nigeria Institute of Science Laboratory Technology.
He said his aim was to implement the various policy documents, adding,,”it is not all about the beauty or elegance of language of a policy document that mattered, rather the provisions of such documents.”
Mamora listed critical policy documents to include Revised 2022 STI Policy, National STI Roadmap and the Technical Committee on Implementation Plan for STI Policy among others that were Inaugurated on October.
He said another policy document 2022, was the registration and release of new varieties of crops and livestock breeds for private seed companies and public research institutions.
He spoke about the Revised Energy Policy and Related National Energy Master plan and constitution of the committee.
He maintained they were to further strengthen the linkages and interaction between the academia, industry and government in areas of research findings and development.
The STI minister said the ministry, in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission recently hosted the African Forum on Research and Innovation ( FARI 2022) in October.
He said the forum provided an opportunity for researchers and innovators within the ECOWAS member states to synergise, exchange ideas on how to improve commercialization of research and development output.
The minister said that there were various achievements recorded by other agencies under the ministry during the period under review.(NAN)