By Peter Usman
Abuja (Nigeria)- Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu has said that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology will not rest on its oars until it effectively strengthen and deploy science, technology and innovation.
This is aimed at moving the country away from being a resource based to a knowledge based and innovation driven economy.
The Minister who made the commitment in Abuja at the 2018 Technology and Innovation Expo, applauded investors, inventors, innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs at the event for championing the birth of a truly modern Nigeria.
He assured that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will continue to support and encourage science, technology and innovation as the key that will unlock the frontiers of Nigeria future greatness.
According to him, “Through the works of your hand and the power of your imagination you have shown that Nigeria is the home of the rising sun. You have shown that science, technology and innovation hold the key for our beloved country to become truly great. You have shown that the future belongs to Nigeria if we pay more attention to science and technology,”
“Nigeria is too rich for Nigerians to be poor. Nigerians are too resourceful to be without technological knowledge. The task before all of us is to use science and technology to fight poverty, illiteracy, joblessness and underdevelopment”
The Minister announced that the Ministry will continue to build on the achievements of the expo, adding that the Ministry will take the event closer to the people in the six geo-political zones of the country.
He disclosed that beginning from next year, the South East geo-political zone will host the expo at a venue to be determined soon, saying that from there, they will move from one geo-political zone to another.
“I know that the journey that lies ahead will not be easy, the road may be rough, the climb may be steep, but I draw strength from the knowledge that the challenge of rebuilding Nigeria is a task that must be accomplished. No effort should be too much for this to be achieved” he said.