Hon. Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. (Sen.) Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora (4th left) Hon. Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh (3rd left) Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mrs. Monilola Udoh (4th right) Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Communication Science and Technology Yenagwua, Dr. Promise Ekio (3rd right), Representative of Chief of the Naval Staff Rear Admiral Bamidele Oluwagbamila (2nd left) and other Dignitaries in a group photograph at the Flag-off of the National Dialogue on the Establishment and Implementation of the Technology and Innovation Centers for Global Competitiveness and Productivity. Theme: Achieving Nigeria’s Competitiveness and Improved Foreign Exchange Earnings through Science, Technology and Innovation.

To meet up with the rest of world in the Science and Technology sector, the federal government has flagged of a National dialogue on the establishment and implementation of Technology and Innovation centers in Abuja.

The primary objective of the centre according to the government is to boost global competitiveness and productivity in the field of Science and Technology.

Minister of Science and Technology and Innovation, Dr. Adeleke Mamora who flagged off the national dialogue, stated that Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) are keys to economic recovery and growth in the country.

Dr. Adeleke said that the economic transformation of the country should be a measure of readiness to move the nation to greater heights to achieve sustainable economic growth for the country.

Speaking on the theme: “Achieving Nigeria’s Competitiveness and Improved Foreign Exchange Earnings through Science, Technology, and Innovation” the Minister said the programme would support the monetary, fiscal as well as trade policies of government for a better and improved economy.

He stressed that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had shown improved governmental responses to change, and collaboration between government, investors, and firms thereby enhancing social safety net protection and a sound financial institutional framework tailored toward the economic transformation of the country.

The Minister explained that “the Innovation ecosystems of the country are geared towards generation of ideas, translation into products, and the commercialization of products on a large scale, and the success of this is dependent on several factors such as strong knowledge-generation areas, universities, research centers, and laboratories”.

He added that the active collaborations between these knowledge centers and commercial businesses are still largely undeveloped in Nigeria

Similarly, the Minister of State for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh in his remark said any country that needs to develop technological wise must make drastic efforts and commitment toward developing its indigenous Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI ) to enable the country look inwards for technological breakthrough.

Earlier, the National Coordinator for Strategy Implementation Task Office for Presidential Executive Order NO.5, Engr. Ibiam Oguejiofor disclosed that one of the objectives of Executive Order 05 is to propagate the vital role of STI in national economic Development, particularly, in the area of promoting ‘’made in Nigeria goods and services’’.

While delivering his goodwill message, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Bayelsa State, Dr. Promise Ekio called on the Federal government to use Executive Order NO.5 platform to integrate Modular refineries into the system to curb vandalization and oil theft in the oil and gas industries.

The representative of the UNESCO regional office, Abuja, Ofure Blessed Aikhakhomon also said that STI is a key element and a driving force for development and expressed the determination of UNESCO to collaborate with the Ministry to enhance and sustain the STI goals in the country.