General news
Minister tasks varsities on research, dev’t in critical areas
By Sylvester Thompson
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, tasked universities, higher education and research institutions to step up research and development in critical areas of science to positively impact Nigerians .
This is contained in a statement released by Blessing Ezeala of the ministry’s press and public relations department on Wednesday in Abuja.
The minister gave the charge when he visited the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to inspect the 500 KVA gasification plant made in Nigeria, made from organic waste for the production of electricity.
The UN, which praised the innovation, said it came at a time when Nigeria was realizing its dream of being an industrialized nation.
He said he was convinced that in the future, innovation would be sponsored by individuals, industries and the organized private sector, among others.
The minister called for innovation to be inculcated in the curriculum of engineering schools with the hope that it would improve the participation of young people in science, technology and innovation (STI) entrepreneurship.
“I encourage the establishment of multidisciplinary student teams to focus on power generation for off-grid and underserved sites across the country.
“This will attract many young people as entrepreneurs in the energy sector,” he said.
The minister added that his ministry would cooperate with the university for its realization, in the hope that the innovation would be of great value to the nation.
Previously, Professor Charles Igwe, vice-chancellor of UNN, had requested support from the federal government to enable the university to commercialize innovation.
Innovation director and team leader Professor Emenike Ejiogu also said the invention was researched and manufactured in Nigeria with all locally sourced raw materials.
He revealed that gasification technology involves converting organic solid waste into gas that can be used to generate electricity. (NOPE)
(NAN)
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