By Emma Elebeke

ABUJA—Worried by the undue pressure being brought on the nation’s currency by the fragility of the economy, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has charged the country to rise up and employ science and technology as the suitable instrument to help to diversify and strengthen the economy.

Ogbonnaya Onu

The minister stated this yesterday, while commissioning the Abuja Office of the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology, NILEST, at Jabi, Abuja.

This is even as the minister disclosed that the Federal Government will organise the first national science and technology competition for the 774 local government areas in the country.

The minister said the competition would be organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology and is aimed at identifying and celebrating the best among the young Nigerian scientists, to be selected from all the local government councils in the country.

He said: “By organizing scientific competitions, here in the NILEST office, our young people will benefit tremendously from a new scientific thinking that is needed to increase the awareness of our people to the role of scientific thinking that is needed to increase the awareness of our people for the role of science and technology in nation building.”

Onu, who underscored the role of technology in economic diversification, promised to ensure adequate equipment and strengthening of the centre to provide the much needed laboratory services to the nation, and to end outsourcing of such services

He said that the event was historic in the sense that it was the first time the institute would have an office of its own in the Federal Capital, Abuja, which would make the centre serve as a reference centre for scientific equipment needs assessment, as well as certification of laboratories for analysis and training.

The Minister said was deep concern about the need to diversify the Nigerian economy, attributed the challenges facing the economy to the mono-product economy syndrome, which according to him is largely responsible for the incessant increase in unemployment rate and economic down turn.

“Anytime there had been a sharp drop in the commodities in the international market, the fragility of our economy had been exposed with attendant consequences of high rate of unemployment and undue pressure on our currency.

“What is worrisome is that the nation tends to forget the hard times as soon as there is a recovery in the price of commodities in the international market,” he said.

Onu implored Nigerians to rise up and employ science and technology as a veritable instrument to help diversify and strengthen the economy, as Nigeria has no other option than to engage itself in technological innovations as a viable road to follow.

He assured Nigerians of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to employ science and technology to diversify the economy, create wealth and jobs, secure the country and sustain the rule of law in governance