FG to increase investment in STI for national development

The federal government has said it would increase investment in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to constitute the engine of socio-economic advancement in the country.
The Minister of Science and Technology Dr.
Ogbonnaya Onu made this statement at the National Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap (NSTIR) 2030 with the theme: ‘Catalysis of Nigeria’s Economic Growth and Competitiveness’, yesterday in Abuja.
According to him: “The nation has depended so much on foreign expertise to execute projects in the area of science and technology, such that when we want to build important roads, bridges airports, seaports, refineries, dams, and as well even for our telecommunications, down to the production of crude oil as the mainstay of our economy, we depend essentially on foreigners”.
“All the highly developed countries have invested intensively in STI and related research and development(R&D).
They have created and implemented systems for harvesting and processing natural resources to produce goods,and developing facilities to serve their communities.
As a prominent country in a highly competitive world in which advances and application of STI determine national wealth and affect the livelihood of citizens, Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind”, he added.
He said South Korea spends over 4.5% of their GDP on innovation adding that Nigeria should imbibe same step to achieve great results.
Earlier the Permanent Secretary FMST Mr. Bitrus Nabasu, said the Roadmap was an initiative by the Ministry, where fully implemented, Nigeria would take the lead to engineer industrial revolution in the country.
He disclosed the event as the North-Central sensitization programme to be the 5th in its series which the coming up one would be at the South West, since there has been previous visits to other four zones in the country.