- By Sunday Bassey
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, on Thursday restated the commitment of the ministry to the promotion and the patronage of made in Nigeria products and services.
Onu declared the commitment at the opening of a two-day dialogue and sensitisation programme with stakeholders on the promotion of made in Nigeria products in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
He said that the ministry has produced a road map that would create a synergy with the Civil Society of Organisations (CSOs) for the growth of the country.
Onu said that several investors have shown interest in Nigeria’s products and services that would encourage Made in Nigeria products.
He said that the ministry would partner with CSOs to sensitise Nigeria to support and ensure patronage of indigenous products and services.
“The CSO is very dynamic in the country, we want to work with them through their representatives in their networks.
Onu was represented at the occasion by Mr E. J Udoh, the Director, Science and Technology Promotion, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.
According to him, the ministry will host the second Technology and Innovation Expo in Abuja in March 2018.
Dr Lanre Adebayo, the Director General, Centre for Applied Policy and Social Advocacy (CAPSA), Abuja, said that Nigeria was importing almost everything before the present government came to power.
He said that Nigeria imported N67 trillion worth of raw materials in the past 10 to 15 years.
“But when this government came on board one of the things it did was to reverse this trend by coming up with economic, growth and recovery plan,” he said.
He said the plan had successfully reversed the trend where Nigerians imported virtually everything.
Adebayo said that if this plan was sustained, the bad economy would be revived to bring about growth.
“Our proposal is to dialogue and sensitise ourselves to the promotion of made in Nigeria products,” he said.
Mr Udo Ekpenyong, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy, said that President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration has encouraged businesses to thrive.
Ekpenyong, represented by Mr Godwin Inyeng, Senior Special Assistant to the Commissioner, expressed optimism that the recession would be over before the end of year 2017.
(NAN)
