Nigeria’s future is full of optimism as long as the nation keeps faith and leverages the enormous power of science, technology, and innovation (STI) coupled with demand-driven research and development programmes, projects, and activities for advancing the frontiers of industrialization, nutrition and food security, energy and power self-sufficiency and maintenance of national defense and internal security.

The Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Senator Adeleke Mamora, said Nigeria is now earning more revenue from the non-oil sector adding that the ministry has created about 6 million direct and indirect jobs in 8 years.                                             

The Minister said this during a media briefing organised by the Presidential Communication team at the State House, Abuja.

Senator Mamora says that from 2015 to 2022 under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Nominal GDP grew from ₦94.4 Trillion to ₦199.34 Trillion by 2022, and the Science, Technology, and Innovation sector improved from ₦3.93 trillion in 2015 to ₦5.35 trillion by 2022.

He added that the ministry is taking STI and research to the sub-national levels of governance in Nigeria by establishing the Technology and Innovation Centers for Global Competitiveness (TICGCOM) in the six hubs in Nigeria where all stakeholders in the STI ecosystem will remain in constant touch and relate appropriately to advance knowledge and modernize existing traditional technologies for enhanced productivity and poverty alleviation.

Mamora said as part of the government’s desire to improve food security in the nation and reduce the pressure on conventional food sources, the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (FMSTI) developed improved varieties of certain crops to serve as alternative sources for the industrial sector.

Other noteworthy achievements of the ministry are in the health-related sector including the use of local herbs, plants, and traditional medical technology in the production of drugs for the treatment of terminal illnesses and diseases.

One of these includes the production of Nutraceuticals for the management of disorders like Sickle Cell Anaemia.

Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu says the National Youth Service Corps remains one of the most important inventions by the Nigerian government.

He said the NYSC has also become an indispensable tool of national development, unity, peace and socioeconomic prosperity.

He disclosed this when he paid an unscheduled visit to the Permanent NYSC Orientation camp, Dakingari, Suru Local Government of the State while promising he would also complete a male hostel before he leaves office on May 29, 2023.

Bagudu, who addressed the 2023 Batch A Stream II corps, currently undergoing orientation, congratulated them for the successful completion of various courses, and induction into the scheme.

He charged them to remain resolute and believe in the oneness of Nigeria as a great nation in the world.

He also enjoined them to overcome fear and face challenges as they reflect to define Nigeria, rather than to wait for somebody to define their country for them.

He urged the corps members to take the mandatory service year seriously and be solution providers in their host communities.

In her address, the Kebbi State NYSC Coordinator, Okolo Agatha Banki, told the governor 1,350 corps members were registered and have, since, acclimatised with the environment, exhibiting a high level of discipline.

Okola said 1,350 the corp members have been deployed to Kebbi State as batch ‘A’ stream ‘B’ and that they have exhibited high level of seriousness in the camp activities as well as adapted quickly to the regimentation of the camp , skill acquisition program which ended on Friday and were ready for post camp component of the training.

She also thanked the governor for the visit, describing the gesture as a privilege.

The Federal Ministry of Education says the present education backwardness being witnessed in the northern part of the country was caused by the people of the north themselves.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, made this known at the public presentation of Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) Book 1 series for Nigerian universities and a book in his honour in Abuja.

Adamu commended the National Universities Commission (NUC) for its drive in ensuring the springing up of more private universities in Nigeria, noting that the Commission’s effort is paying off with the establishment of more of such institutions in Northern Nigeria in recent times.

He said the North is in self-imposed educational backwardness because its interest in Islam, pointing out that Islam is the greatest promulgator of knowledge.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Abubakar Rasheed, while commending the minister for the several achievements recorded under his watch especially in the area of universities development, described CCMAS as a game changer in Nigerian universities system.

While noting that CCMAS is a right step in the right direction, the former chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, emphasized that the initiative is an important contribution aimed at repositioning the Nigerian education system.

The event which witnessed tributes to late Professor Idris Abdulkadir and Professor Nimi Briggs, also saw the unveiling of a book in honour of the the minister titled ‘Repositioning Nigerian Educational System; the Ministerial Footprints of Adamu Adamu.”