Professor Ita Okon Bassey, the Nigerian Minister of Science and Technology, has revealed plans to create wealth and millions of jobs through indigenous technology.
Speaking at the Abuja-held NOTAP–SMEDAN national exhibition and Techmart on Agric, Agro-Allied and Biotechnology sub-sector, he said indigenous technology has the potential of generating millions of jobs and wealth, but warned it needed Nigerian consumers to support the sector in order for the vision to be realised.
In response to President Goodluck Jonathan’s call for Nigerian technology stakeholders to
transform the nation’s economy, the minister said his ministry has set the ball rolling with the creation of a large pool of technology based small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and commercialisation of research and development.
Bassey said: ‘‘Our collective effort is to respond to the calls of Mr. President, to generate jobs and create wealth through our indigenous technology outputs. I note the opportunities awaited by this event and encourage you all to patronize these technologies as our contribution to the socio-economic development of this nation.’’
Describing the aim of the event, he described it as an effort of the ministry in commercialising
matured research and development, their results, and creating large pools of SMEs that are technology-based.
In addition, he said the event also aimed to showcase proven technologies and innovations in the science and technology sub-sector, with special emphasis on agro-processing machineries and equipment that can add value to agricultural products.
