The seventeenth National Council on Science and Technology meeting has commenced in Awka.


The five day meeting with the theme, “moving Nigeria from import dependant to sustainable self reliant and exporting nation through Science, Technology and Innovation drew participants from the thirty-six States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.


Ebele Eze was there and reports that the meeting, which started with a technical session, will reach its crescendo with the ministerial session on Thursday which will be chaired by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.


Declaring the session open, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Bitrus Nabasu, said the theme was chosen to lend support to the federal government’s decision on the closure of borders for enhanced local production and patronage.


Mr. Nabasu, who spoke through the Director in charge of Science Technology Promotion, Dr. Ekanem Udoh while commending Governor Willie Obiano for hosting the event, expressed the hope that the decision that will be taken, would help Nigerian to move from a resource based to a knowledge based economy driven by innovation.


In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Anambra State Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Pauline Nwandu, who described the National Council on Science and Technology as the highest decision making body for Science and Technology in the country apart from the Federal Executive Council, said no nation can develop by relegating Science, Technology and Innovation to the background.


Mrs Nwandu while urging them to take active participation to proffer practicable and realistic suggestions assured that critical decisions reached, will serve as roadmap on policy implementation by government as regards Science, Technology and Innovation.


In their separate submissions, some of the participants, including the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Institute of Lather and Science Technology, Zaria, Dr. Eucharia Opera and the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Segun Adeniji, who identified inadequate
funding as one of the major problems facing Science and Technology in Nigeria, called on the Federal government to recognize the place of Science, Technology and Innovation in national development to achieve job and wealth creation to take the youths of crimes and criminalities.


The session featured success stories recorded in Science, Technology and Innovation across the thirty-six States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

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