Science & Tech minister’s plans to bridge Nigeria's technology gap

Nigeria's Minister for Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, recently revealed the country's new National Science, Technology, and Innovation Roadmap spanning from 2017 to 2030. The roadmap aims to create jobs, generate wealth, and alleviate poverty in Nigeria. Minister Onu shared insights into the Ministry's strategies to bridge technological gaps during an interview at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) with CNBC Africa. The Minister commended the NSE's state-of-the-art data center, emphasizing the importance of innovation and modernization for market transparency and efficiency. He highlighted the need for strong leadership and technology-driven solutions to boost competitiveness. Under his leadership, the Ministry has prioritized aligning research with industry needs, fostering market-driven innovations, and commercializing research findings to stimulate job creation and economic growth. Minister Onu emphasized reducing Nigeria's reliance on external sources by leveraging local resources through science, technology, and innovation initiatives. The implementation of a national strategy to enhance competitiveness in raw materials and product development aims to save trillions of Naira and boost industrialization. The Ministry has set ambitious targets for 2017, focusing on expanding partnerships with companies like Nasko Foods Limited and Me and Baker, enhancing collaboration between research institutes, universities, and industry, and safeguarding intellectual property through patents. The Minister underscored the importance of elevating Nigerian universities to global standards by fostering a culture of research, creativity, and innovation to drive national development. Minister Onu expressed a sense of urgency for Nigeria to embrace knowledge and empower universities as pillars of progress. The Ministry's efforts to revitalize academia and innovation reflect Nigeria's aspirations for technological advancement and economic prosperity.