A member of the House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on science and technology, Hon. Beni Lar has said that science, Technology and Innovation is the sure answer to reversing the current unfavourable exchange rate, tackling insecurities and youth restiveness.
Rt. Hon. Beni Lar stated this recently during the 2021 oversight visit to the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
According to her science and technology is a high-priority sector that cannot only ameliorate the current economic status quo but also correct the negative balances of payment/trade and overdependence on foreign power.
She averred that oversight visit is a legislative-executive partnership for good governance. ‘’It is the most crucial function of the legislature aimed at ensuring compliance to legislations, promotion of best and efficient uses of state resources to attain the desired constitutional purposes of peace/security of lives and good governance among other’’
“Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation is saddled with the onerous tasks of national policies of scientific, technology and innovation research, supervision and control of science and technology activities, automation and IT development policy, national biosafety policy, space policy, nuclear policy and goodies and sensitive services export control, among others to enhance the pace of socio-economic development of the nation,” she stated.
Hon. Beni Lar said there is no gainsaying that Science, Technology and Innovation is the key to Economic growth, diversification, development and emergence as a world power. She added that no nation can develop except through robust and purposeful development of its scientific and technological base and the commercialization of research findings.
“Since the oil boom, Nigeria abandoned the pursuit of Science, Technology and Innovation which has culminated in the chronic under-development in every aspect of our national life. Hence the nation’s dependence on importation of virtually everything her citizenry consumes including water. It is pertinent to acknowledge the unique and professional interventions, the present Hon. Minister, Dr. Onu Ogbonnaya Onu, has made to repositioning this critical sector of the economy’’
“It is noteworthy to state that 61 years after independence, Nigeria has been left behind in the global technological competitiveness. Therefore, our tertiary institutions of higher and Technical colleges’ should be encouraged to incorporate studies such as stem cell, artificial intelligence, robotics. A thorough bred professional, is urged to revive our Technical Skills Acquisition Colleges of Excellence of yesteryears and engage our teeming youthful populace’’
‘’Furthermore, following the quantum advancement in global Science, Technology and Innovation, the future of our principal foreign exchange earner (crude oil) is very bleak. The window of transmission from reliance on fossil fuels to a better technological driven economy/society is closing faster than we can imagine. Therefore, the nation should make hay while the sun shines or be eclipsed in irrelevance in global affairs.
In spite of this, gross under funding of the basis for growth and development (Science, Technology and Innovation) due to lack of proper prioritization, this sector has continued to receive less than the required internationally accepted budgetary allocation. Nevertheless, this House Committee will focus on the drive to harness the rich scientific and technological talents abounding in Nigeria and ensure commercialization of abundant research findings. It is high time, the nation prioritised not only scientific, technological, innovative research but also the commercialization of successful outcomes’’, he opined.
