Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has hinted that there are indications that Nigeria is at the verge of pulling a breakthrough in its search for a cure for the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world.
Onu made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja at a virtual lecture he delivered to participants of Senior Executive Course No. 42 of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos.
According to the Minister, who spoke on the role of science, technology and innovation in national development, this followed the pledge of N36 million the Ministry announced as a reward for any cure found for the pandemic by research institutes and individuals. The Minister had on February 13 this year challenged Nigerian scientists to find a home-grown cure for the pandemic.
In his presentation at the lecture, Dr. Onu disclosed that many research institutions and individuals have written to the Ministry, claiming their research results and natural products can cure the disease.
He also spoke on the National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy, explaining that it was designed to fight poverty through job and wealth creation.
In the virtual Lecture which he delivered from Abuja, the Minister told the participants that the STI Policy which came into being in 1986 was last reviewed in 2012, but that the Ministry under his watch, has revived the dormant policy and constituted the National Research and Innovation Council, with President Muhammadu Buhari as the Chairman, to drive the policy with the sole aim of creating jobs and battling poverty.
He identified other policy instruments that have been put in place to ensure the effective utilisation of science, technology and innovation in national development. They include the National Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap (NSTIR), 2017-2030; National Strategy for Competitiveness in Raw Materials and Product Development in Nigeria; Presidential Executive Order No. 5 for Planning and Execution of Projects; Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts, Science, Engineering and Technology; National Leather and Leather Products Policy; and National Fuel Products Technology.
According to Dr. Onu, all these initiatives have been approved by the Federal Executive Council. These policies, he noted, are being deployed to help create jobs and move millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
The Course Participants and management team were led to the lecture by the Director General of the NIPSS, Prof. Habu Galadima.There are indications that Nigeria is at the verge of pulling a breakthrough in its search for a cure for the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world. Science and Technology Minister, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja at a virtual lecture he delivered to participants of Senior Executive Course No. 42 of the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, near Jos.
According to the Minister, who spoke on the role of science, technology and innovation in national development, this followed the pledge of N36 million the Ministry announced as a reward for any cure found for the pandemic by research institutes and individuals. The Minister had on February 13 this year challenged Nigerian scientists to find a home-grown cure for the pandemic.
In his presentation at the lecture, Dr. Onu disclosed that many research institutions and individuals have written to the Ministry, claiming their research results and natural products can cure the disease.
He also spoke on the National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy, explaining that it was designed to fight poverty through job and wealth creation.
In the virtual Lecture which he delivered from Abuja, the Minister told the participants that the STI Policy which came into being in 1986 was last reviewed in 2012, but that the Ministry under his watch, has revived the dormant policy and constituted the National Research and Innovation Council, with President Muhammadu Buhari as the Chairman, to drive the policy with the sole aim of creating jobs and battling poverty.
He identified other policy instruments that have been put in place to ensure the effective utilisation of science, technology and innovation in national development. They include the National Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap (NSTIR), 2017-2030; National Strategy for Competitiveness in Raw Materials and Product Development in Nigeria; Presidential Executive Order No. 5 for Planning and Execution of Projects; Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contracts, Science, Engineering and Technology; National Leather and Leather Products Policy; and National Fuel Products Technology.
According to Dr. Onu, all these initiatives have been approved by the Federal Executive Council. These policies, he noted, are being deployed to help create jobs and move millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
The Course Participants and management team were led to the lecture by the Director General of the NIPSS, Prof. Habu Galadima.
