President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the change of name of Ministry of Science and Technology to Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, announced this in a news briefing on Friday in Abuja.
The minister said that in 2017 the Federal Executive Council, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, approved the National Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap (NSTIR 2017-2030).
This document laid out a core policy for driving positive socio-economic outcomes through science, technology and innovation in all activities of the economy,’’ Mr Onu said.
The minister said this had necessitated the ministry’s change of name to the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, as approved by the Presidency.
He noted that the new development would require the ministry to drive the Innovation Agenda by embarking on a branding campaign, in line with its expected mandate in ensuring productivity and economic growth.
He said as an enabler of government, society and industry through policy, the ministry shall focus on ensuring the provision of STI-based solutions to overcome societal challenges.
Mr Onu explained that the approval of the change of name would be in gazette to enable legal and policy frameworks to reflect institutional and organisational arrangements, effective coordination, among others.
According to him, the new development will help the ministry to bring a shift in Research and Development which is industry and service demand-driven, resulting in rapid commercialization and improved global competitiveness.
This decision by the President will ensure that the missing link will be adequately addressed.
“Immediately we are able to commercialise Research and Development breakthroughs, the nation’s global competitiveness ranking will improve tremendously with varying degrees of development that are sustainable.
“These include a robust STI ecosystem that will accommodate continuous system improvement, product quality enhancement and guaranteed standardisation of ‘Made-In-Nigeria’ goods and services,’’ he said.
He said Nigeria would experience irreversible indigenous industralisation with adequate platform for higher productivity.
Mr Onu also assured of continuous improvement in value-added components of the economy, with quality employment generation in the economy, among others.