The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonaya Onu has appealed to Nigerians to patronise Made in Nigeria goods, saying, that would be only way to boost the economy and ensure the country develops.
The Minister also said the country would earn more foreign exchange if it deployed science and technology in processing many of the raw products, mostly agricultural products, into finished products and export them to foreign countries.
The Minister stated this in Abeokuta, after inspecting the finished products displayed at the Technology Incubation Centre by some members of the Incubation Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria.
The minister who noted that in the past the country had neglected science and technology, said the present government of President Muhammadu Buhari, would encourage innovative ideas in every sector of the economy.
Onu who said he was impressed by the innovative products manufactured by the entrepreneurs which ranged from household items like soap,cream, drinks to industrial machines and tools, added that ones those products were well packaged and they met international standard, they would become exportable.
He said, “Nigeria as a nation has a bright future, if we can deplore science and technology, in processing our natural products into finished products.
Those products could be exported and the country will earn more foreign exchange. “We need to increase the productivity of our people, job creation is very important. “We have abundant resources, if we export them in raw forms, we’ll get little returns.
“President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration wants to identify all our geniuses, Nigerians with ideas. A Nigerian had made a drone which could travel several distance, I have told people in my ministry to look for him.”
The Director-General, National Board for Technology Incubation, Dr Mohammed Jibrin, said the incubation centres across the country were committed to producing entrepreneurs that would produce goods and products, that could compete globally.
The National President, Incubation Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria, Olu Adeola, said the government must encourage the members by buying products produced by them, most especially food items which could be bought to feed prison inmates, the military and para-military personnel on official assignment to troubled zones, within and outside the country.
The body also demanded increased funding for the technology incubation centres across the country, and also provide soft loans for their members, so that they could expand their business and employ more hands.
(Vanguard)
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