The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said that the ministry has begun verification claims for the cure of Covid-19.
He made this known at the quarterly management meeting of the Ministry and its agencies on Monday in Abuja.
According to a press release by the press department of the ministry, the minister recalled that the Ministry offered the sum of N36 million to scientists and innovators that could find the cure for Covid-19 and Lassa fever.
Onu further said that all submissions for the Covid-19 cure have been directed to the Academy of Science for verification as well as recommendation to the ministry.
He reiterated that the ministry is working hard to develop home-grown solutions to help manage the Covid-19 pandemic.
He assured that encouraging results have been submitted and in no distant time, details on the submissions would be made known to the nation.
Onu said for Nigeria to increase her foreign earnings, the country must look inwards for solutions to its problems and export same to other countries.
On his part, the minister of State in the Ministry, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi said the minisyry is working to procure huge grants in order to support research and development efforts in the science and technology sector.
He called on the Directors and DGs of the ministry to show more commitment in their work so as to realize the mandate of the ministry.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Mohammed Bello Umar admonished the DGs of the ministry’s agencies to highlight priority areas in the preparation and execution of their budget.
