From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji said over 600 Nigerian inventors have benefited from the Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovations (PSCII) grants since the inception in 2005.
The Minister made this known on Tuesday at the 2023 PSCII grant award ceremony for thirty-two inventors in Abuja.
Chief Nnaji explained that the program was setup by federal government to stimulate the interest of Nigerians in using Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to drive economic growth and overall national development.
The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Esuabana Nko-Asanye, insisted that value-addition to natural resources through the application of Science, Technology and Innovation is pertinent for a competitive economy and attainment of sustainable development.
“it is pertinent to note that all the supports being offered by the PSCII to Inventors and Innovators are guided by the operational guidelines and Terms of Reference (ToR). It is expedient to note that since the inception of the PSCII Programme in 2005, more than 600 Innovators/Inventors have so far benefitted from the grants across all the six Geopolitical Zones of the country after satisfying the selection criteria” Chief Nnaji added.
According to the Minister, his Ministry is making effort to improve the budgetary allocation for the Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovations (PSCII).
He added that the Ministry is partnering relevant stakeholders to
facilitate the achievement of the ultimate goal of the PSCII Programme by providing a solid foundation for a technological break-through in the country, that will improve the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians.
“The ministry is collaborating with relevant stakeholders such as Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TetFund), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), the National Planning Commission, is facilitating the achievement of the ultimate goal of the PSCII Programme by providing a solid foundation for a technological break-through in the country, as well as improving the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians” the Minister emphasized.
“In our bid to transit from Resource-Based to a Knowledge-Based Economy driven by Innovation, it is worthy of note that, value-addition to natural resources through the application of Science, Technology and Innovation is pertinent for a competitive economy and attainment of sustainable development” he noted.
“The ability of Nigeria to compete and prosper depends to a significant extent, more on the deployment of technological capacities and innovations than on exploitation of natural resources”
He however stressed that Global Competitiveness is expected to contribute to job and wealth creation, to improve the well- being and quality of life of Nigerians through the production of goods and services and building the human capacities required for such activity.
Chief Nnaji therefore urged the beneficiaries of 2023 to use the grants for further creativity, inventions and innovations as it forms the critical factor in national development, economic growth and global competitiveness in the near future.
Earlier in her remarks, the Director General, National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) Dr. Patricia Uche Chukwu said the PSCII was inaugurated to encourage technology based domestic initiatives as the nation search for homegrown solutions and innovations to foster economic development.
Dr. Chukwu added that the programme has led to the generation, creation, infusion, utilization and proliferation of many need driven inventions and innovations in Nigeria.
She congratulated the winners of the 2023 PCSII award and encouraged the science, technology and innovation family to do more to launch Nigeria into the league of developed countries through inventions and innovations.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Roland Terla appreciated the federal government for the grants, pledged that it will be used judiciously for the creation of more innovations for the development of the country.