NRIC to reposition science, technology

By Mohammed Usman

Following the approval of the establishment of National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC) by the federal government, the Minister of science and technology, Dr Abdul Bulama yesterday inaugurated an

inter-ministerial technical working committee in that regard.

The minister who was represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Mrs Winifred oyo-ita, said NRIC which is chaired by the president Goodluck Jonathan with technical ministries’ ministers as members, and draw its technical working committee members from technical agencies would have its secretariat at the federal science and technology secretariat.

“The council is structured to accelerate the growth of innovation-based entrepreneurship in the country and create conditions for commercialization of current and future research in our public

universities, and research intuitions. It is also expected to reposition science, technology and innovation(STI) as a national top priority endeavor to guarantee sustainably, high standard of living and quality of life for Nigerians as well as fast-track industrial and economic development.

He said the council which was charged with a vision of a united, strong and self-reliant nation with dynamic economy driven by a viable national system of innovation, was the apex body with the responsibility of driving the transformation of Nigeria into a knowledge-based economy, with strong capabilities in science, technology and innovation(STI) needed to address the great challenges in our nation today like poverty, unemployment, insecurity, environmental issues, unsustainable and slow industrial growth, illhealth, ill affordable and weak education system.

Earlier, the Director of planning, research and policy analysis, Oyelayo Babajide said, “We should work as a team and articulate what we have toward promoting science, technology and innovation in Nigeria.