By Darley Ogbodo
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, on Monday expressed readiness to collaborate with Kano state government
on the production of Neem fertilizer for food security.
This he said has become expedient because of the growing population, diversification of the economy and putting an end to importation of fertilizer into the country.
The Minister made the disclosure when the Permanent Secretary, kano state Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation and Chairperson Action Committee for the establishment of Neem Fertilizer processing plant, Hajia Bilkisu Waziri, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.
The Minister adviced the Kano State government to create an independent Ministry of Science and Technology to facilitate the application of science and technology innovations to provide an enabling environment for Nigeria to move from resource-based to knowledge- based innovation driven economy.
According to him, the State Science and Technology University in Wudil, would be added advantage to people if an independent Science and Technology Ministry is created adding that the products from these two institutions will create wealth and provide jobs for our youths as well as economic growth of our great country.
He commended the kano state government for looking inwards in trying to meet the needs of the nation adding that Nigeria used to produce enough to feed her people but lately that became a very big problem, stressing that it is very important that we feed ourselves.
Onu, said: “I am sure by the time you do more research we will be able to utilize that very important economic tree to meet many of the needs of our people in kano, Nigeria and beyond.
“We want to assure you that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology will give you every support to realize this.”
He assured that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is on the way to be in a position to have food security, feed all Nigerians adding that the establishment of the neem fertilizer plant will be an added impetus.
In a remark, the Permanent Secretary, kano State Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Waziri, said that the purpose of the visit is to seek for the Minister’s blessings, advice and assistance in the actualization of a pilot Neem fertilizer plant in kano.
She further said that the Kano state government is ever ready to provide an enabling environment for more collaboration, cooperation and assistance with the Ministry of science and technology and its agencies.
She also solicited for the assistance of the Ministry to facilitate the intervention of development partners in promoting, Science, technology and innovation.