NAN-H-86
Economy
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Nov. 4, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has said that the nation’s economy can be diversified through the use of science and technology.
Onu said this on Friday at 14th meeting of the National Council on Science and Technology in Osogbo.
He said there was an urgent need for the nation to diversify its economy from being a mere consumer to a producer economy.
The minister said the economic challenges facing the nation required that urgent action be taken to diversify the economy; in a sustainable and competitive manner through the use of science and technology.
According to him, no single nation in either ancient or modern time has ever become great without science and technology.
“A nation can be rich but certainly not by the mere possession of abundant natural resources.
“Egypt, surrounded by deserts, was able to use the water of River Nile to irrigate its land and grow sufficient food to sustain its population.
” The United Kingdom utilised the power of steam and production of iron and steel to build civilisation that exerted considerable influence in virtually every time zone of the world.
“I believe Nigeria can make a difference in her search for economic diversification by not only nurturing indigenous technology, but by creating new technology that will improve productivity.
Onu said the Ministry of Science and Technology was working hard to help the country to engage technological innovation to catalyse economic diversification.
In his remarks, Gov. Rauf Aregbeaola said it was disheartening that the nation continued to import fuel at $7.2 billion annually without maximising the potential of its crude oil.
According to the governor, if the country maximises the potentials of crude oil, it will not even export a drop of oil.
“I believe that before we begin to talk about science and technology, we should first be concerned with the making of a knowledge-driven society.
“There is a prevalent disdain for knowledge and scholasticism in our societym,” the governor said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the meeting was: ‘The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Diversification of the Economy.'(NAN)
VE/AK/LDA
==========
Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Lawal Ado