By Felix Shammah
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Science and Technology is set to produce a comprehensive policy on intellectual property for the country.
The minister of Science and Technology, who disclosed this, at a meeting with Directors and Director- Generals of Agencies of the ministry held on Tuesday in Abuja, said the ability of every nation to invent and innovate is measured by intellectual policy.
Onu said, the four major polices that we developed in the Ministry are that all of us must be proud of which include executive order No.5 and National Leather Policy (NLP)
Others are Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), Road map from 2017-2030, and National Strategy for Competitiveness in Raw Materials and Product Development.
Onu said the polices would help to reduce importation of all sorts of goods into the country, as it would encourage local production.
In five years, we will be able to save as much as N3.6 billion and create as much as 4.4 million jobs. That was the promise we made and we are making progress. Onu Said.
According to the Minister, Nigeria is to be one of the largest 20th economies in the world, and this can only be attain if Science, Technology and Innovation(STI) will be allowed to play a critical role in nation building.
He further said that the economic and recovery growth plan 2017-2020 recognizes Science, Technology and Innovation as the center of all economic activities and as a part of national development in the country.
He further stressed that, the beginning of creating a bright future for our nation is making sure that we reduce importation in the country, encourage local production and strengthen our currency as well as create wealth and jobs for the country.
The Minister commended the Directors and Director- Generals of Agencies of the ministry for their combined effort to move the nation to a greater height.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Bitrus Bako Nabasu, said that nobody is an island of his own, adding all the Staff should put hands together to move the ministry forward for the betterment of the country.
He urged the Director and Director- Generals of Agencies and the ministry to discharge their responsibilities diligently.