From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has restated its commitment to the implementation of Presidential Executive Order 5
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Uche Nnaji made this commitment in Abuja, noting it was aimed at discussing the strategic implications, promise, and readiness for Implementation of Presidential Executive Order No. 5.
According to the Minister, the Presidential Executive Order No. 5 is a visionary and transformative policy designed to drive innovation, promote science and technology, as well as catalyze the country’s economic diversification.
Nnaji stated that it will boost technological advancement, promotion of domestic and foreign investments, reduce dependence on foreign goods and the strain on the Naira, facilitate massive job creation and industrial growth.
He said that the Order “aligns with and catalyses the 8-point Renewed Hope Agenda” of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
On its implementation, he explained that Nigeria is rich in human and largely unexplored natural resources saying that the predominantly youthful population is not only the largest in Africa but also ranks among the largest globally.
He noted that geographically the country stands at Africa’s heart but despite these assets, youth unemployment remains a massive challenge, “as we constantly export domestic jobs by importing many products we could competitively produce locally.”
He also noted that the Presidential Executive Order No. 5 addresses these challenges by providing support for Made-in-Nigeria goods and services (MNGS), the development of home grown capability, and the capacity to maintain, redesign, reproduce, rededicate, and duplicate any infrastructure built in Nigeria for self-reliance and development.
The Minister further explained that the order also seeks to closely monitor and promote the capacity of Nigerian professionals and contractors in Science, Engineering, and Technological programs to compete with their counterparts globally.
“The Strategic Implementation Task Office of the Executive Order (SITOPEo. 5) will operationalize these objectives with its Presidential Monitoring and Evaluation Council. The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) also maintains a database of Nigerian professionals for project execution,” Nnaji said.