By Dele Ogbodo
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, on Monday said the country will save N3 trillion through its ongoing
Economic Recovery/Growth Programme of reduction in raw materials importation within the next 5 years.
Onu made the disclosure while launching the South-south sensitization programme on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) road-map 2030, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital.
The Minister appealed to Scientists to harness innovation and utilize the road map as an Instrument of providing jobs, creating wealth and reducing poverty in our nation.
He assured that the ministry is willing to harness invention and innovation in other to catapult the nation towards economic recovery.
According the Minister, the Buhari administration has accorded Science and Technology a prima place in the economy recovery and growth plan, adding that with the reduction in the importation of raw materials, Nigeria will save about N3 trillion in the next 5 years.
The savings he added will be utilized to service other critical sectors of the economy, such as job creation, social and infrastructural development.
Dr Onu, who canvassed a transition from a resource to knowledge – based economy, added that local contents would now be encouraged in all Science and engineering contracts in the country.
He appealed to staff to study and be guided by the road map in their Scientific and Research endeavours.
In his remarks, the Director Science and Technology Promotion, Mr Ekanem Udoh, said unlike past policy guidelines the present road map is infused with practicable timelines to boost the scientific and technological development of the country