Hon. Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji (left) receiving plaque from the Director-General, Defence Research and Development Bureau, (DRDB) Major General Emmanuel Ndagi, during the courtesy visit by the Director-General, Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB), to the Hon. Minister in Abuja.

Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, has called on the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and other stakeholders to partner with the ministry to assess funding for quick and effective commercialization of Research and Development Products in the country.

The Minister said commercialized research and development outputs into finished goods and services in the country will reduce over dependence on importation and increase the country’s Gross Domestic Products(GDP).

Mr Nnaji said this when he received the delegation from the Defence Research and Development Bureau, led by the Director- General Major Gen. Emmanuel Ndagi  in his office  in Abuja.

The Minister expressed the resolve of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration to focus on the commercialization of the country’s Research and Development outputs for socio-economic growth of the nation.

According to Chief Nnaji, the Ministry has done so much in the area of research and development through its agencies, adding that collaboration will be key to assessing funds for quick and effective commercialization of the R&D Products.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Defence Research and Development Bureau, Major Gen. Emmanuel Ndagi said that the agency has the mandate to coordinate and sponsor research for the Armed forces institutions and innovative centres in the country.

He also said that the purpose of their visit to the Minister’s office was to strengthen the existing partnership between the agency and the Ministry in the area of using R&D outputs to transform the country’s economy from resource to knowledge based.

The Director- General advised that the collaboration with the Ministry be extended to land, marine and aerospace to further boost national security.