By Dwelleth Morountodun
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has charged the academic community and research institutes
to ensure that research findings are channeled towards addressing prevailing societal problems and not just for career advancement.
Onu, made the appeal when he commissioned an upgraded chemical laboratory donated by PZ cussons at Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, at the weekend.
The minister commended the efforts of PZ cussons in upgrading the chemical laboratory, which would help obviate the need to transport research samples to other places, help upgrade manpower and reduce the trend of importing technology from abroad.
Onu, said research findings could be commercialized through patenting, thereby creating wealth and significantly reduce poverty in the country.
According to him, Nigerians could be lifted out of poverty, by nurturing business startups which would later grow in size and employ a lot of people.
Onu further challenged youths to brace up for technological challenges ahead. In his words: “I’m therefore challenging our youths to pick up the gauntlet, as the future of our country depends on them”.
He said Nigeria had the potential to produce Nobel Laureates in Science and Technology, since the country had previously produced one in literature.
In his words, the Vice-chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Prof. Muhammadu Ahmad Abdulazeez, said the upgraded chemical laboratory has put the school’s engineering department on the pedestal of cutting-edge research in minerals.
He further expressed optimism that the discovery of hydro-carbons in Bauchi state would be of immense benefits to the use of the laboratory. He added that the private sector, should help in funding more projects.