The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has inaugurated the National Consultative Committee for Competiveness in Raw Material and Products Development to reposition Nigeria for economic recovery.
Mr. Edet Etuk, Assistant Chief Information Officer in the ministry in a statement in Abuja on Friday, said Onu inaugurated the committee when he addressed stakeholders in Raw Materials and Products Development recently.
The minister said the effort was to reposition the country on the path of sustainable development.
According to him, such national strategy is a fact-based framework designed to harness the potential of the country’s Research & Development (R&D) institutions in partnership with industries and business.
“This is to fast track and redirect the highway to orderly economic recovery, double digit growth and sustainable development.
“With this strategy, the nation will surely attain global competiveness in industrial production as well as in services by making Made-in-Nigeria products and services gain international recognition,“ he said.
He said that the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 2017 to 2020 had Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) at the centre of its operation to change the economy from resources-based to knowledge-based.
According to him, countries that paid sufficient attention to STI emerge as great nations.
“Such nations have been able to sustain their independence, developed their economy, protect their environment and guarantee their security for the happiness of their citizens, “the minister said.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Belema Wakama said that “strategic initiatives are necessary to address issues at all levels.”