Federal Government Inaugurates Committee For Techno Expo 2023
Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
Federal Government has inaugurated the planning Committee for the 2023 Technology Expo holding Monday 16th to Friday 20th January, 2023.
The Technology Expo which is to be hosted by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, is a collaborative effort aimed at advancing Science, Technology and Innovation, STI in the country.
Interacting with critical stakeholders ahead of the inauguration ceremony, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Adeleke Mamora, said the ultimate aim is to ensure that Nigeria emerges one of the top twenty STI driven countries of the world before the year 2030.
He noted that there are many lessons learnt from COVID-19 including the Innovation of virtual meetings, production of sanitizer, collaboration between ministries on the production of vaccines among others.
He stressed that with STI, Nigeria can overcome some vaccine preventable childhood diseases such as tetanus, tuberculosis, measles, and whooping cough.
Dr Mamora said the essence of advancing STI is to address challenges afflicting Nigerians as a people and stop depending on foreign companies for drugs.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mrs. Monilola Udoh, represented by the Director, Health and Bio-medical Science, Pharmacist David Erabhrahiemen in a welcome address, said there cannot be any meaningful development with STI hence the Expo will be an opportunity for innovators to share ideas, network and partner to enhance the development of STI in Nigeria.
According to her, Government cannot do without the contribution of the private sector which assists accelerated development of STI.
The Director, Science and Technology Promotion, Shuaib Ahmed Umoru, who gave an overview on the Expo, said it will effectively promote commercialisation of Research and Development results and attract national and international investors.
Other stakeholders who spoke at the event including the Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ekumankama, Mrs Comfort Ajikwoyi, who represented the Minister of Information and Culture, Dr. Moma Enan, representing UNESCO Abuja among others said opportunities that abound in Science Technology and Innovation should be harnessed to the fullest for faster development of the country.