By Dele Ogbodo
The end of the year 2020 meeting of the Minister, Permanent Secretary, Directors and Director-Generals of agencies of the Ministry of Science and Technology,
ended on Wednesday in Abuja with a resolve to reposition the Ministry and Intensify research efforts to tackle various challenges confronting the nation.
The 4th quarterly meeting which was chaired by the Minister, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, further resolved to access all available research funding, including that of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), so as to boost research outputs of the various agencies.
At the meeting, Onu noted that Nigerians are gradually developing innovative capacities in various fields of Science and Technology, adding that this would help the nation in its quest to diversify the economy.
He further called for improved indigenous ways of funding research and innovation in the country.
According to him, this will help convert ideas into products and services, reduce importation of goods, increase exports to other countries, create more jobs and wealth for the nation.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to the application of Science, Technology and Innovation to national security, adding that appropriate technologies will be deployed in areas such as intelligence gathering, and development of platforms to effectively fight insecurity in Nigeria.