FG to close all technology gaps in Nigeria - Minister says

chika ebuzor

May 30, 2016 12:57 PM

Onu stated that the choice of Nasco Foods Limited in the partnership is based on the company’s integrity and experience in the industry.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu

The Federal Government says it will close all technology gaps to advance national development.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, said this when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.

He said all agencies under the ministry would be fully engaged, particularly the National Office for Technology and Acquisition Promotion (NOTAP), to fast-track development in the country.

"NOTAP is working very hard; we have the national technology acquisition promotion initiative.

"We are going to use that initiative to close technology gaps that we have in the country.

"There is a lot of technology gaps almost in all sectors.

"So, NOTAP we help us .We have a baskets of incentives, some will come from NOTAP, some will come from ministry of trade investment and some will come from ministry of finance.

"These are incentives that will promise the company that come into Nigeria with the aim not only to make profits but also to transfer to allow Nigerians to acquire the technology.``

Onu said the Federal Government, represented by the ministry, had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NASCO Foods Limited, Jos, for commercial production of high nutrient density biscuits for the National School Feeding Programme.

According to him, the MoU indicates the Federal Government’s commitment in keeping to its campaign promise to provide quality education in the country.

"The MoU was meant to provide a strategic guide for the collaboration between the Ministry, Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Oshodi, and Nasco Foods Limited, Jos, on commercial production of High Nutrient Density Biscuits.

"The initiative was an innovation of FIIRO for the National School Feeding Programme in the spirit of Public-Private Partnership being promoted by the government.

"This is based on the realisation that an institute on its own cannot make the much desired impact without collaborating with relevant organisations.

"With this collaboration, jobs and wealth will be created, while the national GDP will be enhanced through the productive sector of the economy," the minister said.

chika ebuzor