The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) has finalised arrangements to organise Technology and Innovation Expo to commercialise Research and Development (R&D) in the country.
The FMST minister, Ogbonnaya Onu made the declaration on Monday in Abuja at the meeting of 2017 Inter-Ministerial Planning Committee for the Technology and Innovation Expo 2017, scheduled to hold from April 3 to April 7.
Onu said that the aim of commercialising inventions and innovations of Nigerians was to strengthen local production of goods and services.
“This is in pursuant of its mandate of deploying Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) to provide employment, alleviate poverty, and contribute to economic diversification.
“Hence, the theme for the Expo will be `Science, Technology and Innovation for Nigeria’s Economic Diversification’, “ he said.
The minister said that there would be exhibition of research results, inventions and innovations as well as products and services of made in Nigeria hinged on STI.
He said that expo would include technical sessions on Renewable Energy, Space Technology, Research and Industrial linkages.
He said the event would contribute to the administration’s drive for made in Nigeria goods.
He added that the event would make Nigerians to be aware of national capabilities in producing the goods and services citizens required.
“Which will eventually reduce poverty, reduce importation and strengthen our currency,“ he added.
According to him, the participants will be drawn from all universities, polytechnics, research institutes, industrial research, laboratories, inventors and innovations, the military, STI entrepreneurs in the formal and informal sectors.
“Also, selected Nigerian innovators in the Diaspora among others have been invited to participate at the Expo which is first of its kind in Nigeria,’’ Onu said.
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
