From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday, made a strong case for the support of local innovators and inventors in Nigeria by government at all levels and Nigerians at large to enable them contribute more to national growth and development.
Osinbajo spoke at the opening ceremony of a two-day National Innovation Workshop theme: Promotion of Local Inventors of Science, Technology and Innovation held at the International Convention Centre, Awka, Anambra State.
The event was organised by the Senate Committee on Science and Technology being chaired by Senator Uche Ekwunife who represents Anambra Central Senatorial District.
Osinbajo, who was represented by the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Henry Ikoh, said that already, the Federal Government through his office has been championing the adoption of innovative technology as key tool for the acceleration of social economic development in Nigeria.
“I commend Ekwunife for her passion and commitment. This workshop of today is a unique platform that offers Nigerians the opportunity to rebrand the national innovation ecosystem, with emphasis on technology and entrepreneurship.
Ekwunife, in her remarks, said that the purpose of the workshop was to connect researchers, innovators and inventors across Nigeria who share in the passion to create technological solutions to the myriad of socio-economic problems bedevilling the country in order to transform the STI sector into a viable and a result oriented sector.
“The national workshop is also expected to mobilize a broad spectrum of investors, inventors, academia, policymakers, entrepreneurs, technology companies, government agencies and students for networking and collaboration”, she said.
The state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, said there was the need for a national policy to promote STI, saying that his administration has begun keying into that. “Without STI, nothing happens. In Anambra we recognised this fact and we have been taking proactive measures to make Anambra the home of talents for STI in the country.
“We need to replicate same across the country by having a legislative framework to mainstream STI in our schools to catch them young”, Soludo said.