Minister of Science and Technology,  Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has received the interim report of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) on science, innoNIPSSvation and economy.

Onu, received the report on Friday in Abuja with the  Federal Ministry of Science and Technology’s joint committee on review and strategy, for the implementation of the annual presidential parley report(s) from 2008 to 2019.

The committee, which was set up by the minister, was to examine ways and means by which the socio-economic development of Nigeria could be galvanised, using Science, Technology and Innovation.

Receiving the report, Onu said the report of the committee would  enable the country to refocus its economic outlook, in the light of the shortfall in oil prices and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The minister said the input of science and technology would be very crucial to the new economic blueprint that would emerge in the new national and world order in post- COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the him, for Nigeria to increase her Gross Domestic Product (GDP), there is need to increase her exports and significantly reduce her imports.

This, he said, could only be accomplished through the application of science, technology and innovation, as encapsulated in the knowledge and innovation-driven economic order, being championed by the ministry.

He mentioned the policies to include Executive Order 5, Science and Technology Roadmap 2017 to 2030, National Methanol Fuel Production Policy, the  National Strategy for Competiveness in Raw Materials and Product Development.

Onu also mentioned the national leather products policy among others, while noting that these policies were put in place  to ensure economic diversification and development of a new economic order in the country.

”This can be done and must be done,” he said.

Dr Peter Ekweozor, Chairman of the committee and Director of the Environmental Science Tecchnology Department of the ministry, said the committee had examined the reports of NIPSS set 1 – 42.

Ekweozor said after the examination, the committee came up with policies that would propel the socio-economic development of the country.

He maintained that the committee had made concrete recommendations and implementation strategies that would drive the recommendations.

The chairman further said that in the course of its assignment, the committee met with various stakeholders including the organised private sector.

Source:- NAN