President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged improved budgetary allocation for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).
The President said this while declaring open the seventh edition of the STI-EXPO 2023 in Abuja.
He said his administration would also look into the welfare and infrastructure to enable the system plays its vital roles in catering for the livelihood of the nation.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, President Buhari said the theme of the expo: Actualising Effective Diversification of the Nigerian Economy through STI, was apt.
The President said this was geared towards showcasing research and development products, goods and services, for commercialization.
He said this was in line with moving Nigeria from consumption to production economy.
President Buhari stressed that no nation has ever developed without the use of the STI.
The President told Nigerians that his administration had placed a special premium on the STI sector for the utilisation of local materials and personnel.
He said: “That was why I personally signed the Presidential Executive Order Number 5 for the planning and execution of projects and promotion of Nigerian content in contracts, science, engineering and technology.
“The Order is an instrument that scientists, engineers and other allied professionals were yearning for in order to help contribute effectively in the development of Nigeria.”
President Buhari said the National Policy on Welding and Welding-Related fields was approved last November as part of Federal Government’s efforts to fast-track industrialisation and sustainable development.
The President said his administration had gone into partnership with state governments in each of the six geopolitical zones where technology and innovation centres were established to serve as a forum of stakeholders in the STI ecosystem.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Adeleke Mamora said STI constitutes the foundation and driving force in the industrial leadership of nations and business entities as well as economic success on the global scale.
He noted that countries that had made significant progress towards sustainable economic development owed their successes to investments in STI.
