The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Bitrus Bako Nabasu has called for strong partnership between the Ministry and UKAID-Africa, so as to boost knowledge transfer in Science, Technology and Innovation.
The Permanent Secretary made the call when he received a delegation of UKAID and UK-Africa science partnership in the Ministry in Abuja on Wednesday.
Nabasu said the President’s determination to lift more than 100 million people out of poverty in the next ten years can only be realized through the platform of Science and Technology, adding that inputs of UK-Aid in this objective would be crucial in its realization.
He noted that the Federal Government had initiated major policies in STI to help drive economic diversification and appealed to UKAid to assist in the area of their implementation.
“We are not short of capacity, but it is the implementation of such capacity”.
He disclosed that Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful progress unless the tools of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) are put to good use.
He commended the UKAID in Africa, for using technology to improve the fortunes of the ordinary citizens of Nigeria.
Earlier, the Head of UKAID, UK-AFRICA West African Team lead, Leanne Jones said the objective of their meeting was to support partner countries like Nigeria to harness science and technology to improve economic opportunities.
The Head of the UK Knowledge Transfer Technology, Dr. Nee-Joo Teu, said collaborating with the Federal Government was essential to build suitable technological models for Nigeria that is friendly to the Eco-system and eventually grow Nigeria’s economy.
