Nigerian Government Renames Science And Technology Ministry

The federal government has renamed the Ministry of Science and Technology as Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The minister in charge, Ogbonnaya Onu, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja the nation’s capital.

The name was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari to bring about a shift in research and development that is industry and services’ demand-driven. This ministry was first created as a separate ministry in 1985.

The minister said Buhari has given the rebranded ministry the responsibility of overseeing that the innovation agenda of the federal government is achieved.

He said Nigeria will achieve a significant level of poverty alleviation after renaming the ministry and its new responsibilities.

The Minister said the development will help bring about a shift in Research and Development (R&D) that is industry and services’ demand-driven, resulting in rapid commercialization and ultimately improved global competitiveness ranking of Nigeria.

He said this development will enable the reviewing of legal and policy frameworks as backup for institutional and organisational arrangements, effective coordination of the National Science and Innovation in the country.