By Kazeem Biriowo
THE Federal Government says it has approved the indigenous production of Satellite in Nigeria to facilitate and boost internet broadband penetration.
The satellite production and design will be achieved through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project in line with Executive Order No.5 which seeks to boost local production and ensure that Nigeria relies less on imports.
Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh made the achievement known during the South -South dialogue between government and stakeholders in the Science, Technology and Innovation ecosystem in Port Harcourt.
During the dialogue, the minister said that the geo-political dialogues will enhance the productive capacities of each geo-political zone to promote the nation’s global competitiveness and productivity.
Ikoh added that technology and innovation centres have the task of showcasing the role of Science, Technology and Innovation in socio-economic development.
He said that this will ensure Nigeria moves from a resource-based to a knowledge and innovation driven economy.
He further said that the development of technology innovation centres will provide the enabling environment for the emergence of tech-giants, innovative discoveries and Inventions that will accelerate reverse engineering.
He said: “It is envisaged that the operationalisation of the technology and innovation centres will lead to the emergence of commercial Research and Development Companies, which will, in turn, be used to attract Research Funding from local companies and venture capital that would motivate Nigerians to go into the field of Science, Research and Development (R&D)”.
The minister assured Nigerians that the Federal Government will work hard to ensure the success of technology development in the country and ensure that technological innovations and outputs from Nigeria are world-class.
Ikoh further restated the commitment of the Federal Government to using Executive Order NO.5 to empower youths in the Niger Delta region in welding technology, to enable them compete with their foreign counterparts, adding that this will help curb restiveness and militancy.
Earlier, the National Coordinator, Strategy Implementation Task Office for Presidential Executive Order no.5, Ibiam Oguejiofor, noted that the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, will collaborate with stakeholders in the ecosystem to promote the application of STI in all sectors of the economy.
Rivers State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Prince Mmom, commended the Federal Government for considering the state as a host of the South-South zone and centre of excellence for global competitiveness and productivity.
He added that the state government is willing to support the promotion of indigenous technology in the country. (Tribune)