From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stated his administration’s commitment to setting up a National Engineering and Innovation Fund.
The fund, he said, will provide grants and resources to engineers and technologists working on solutions for Nigeria’s unique challenges.
“With this fund, we aim to support local innovations, encourage entrepreneurship, and ensure that Nigeria remains at the forefront of engineering advancement in Africa”, he disclosed.
Besides, his administration would equally embark on strengthening infrastructure and industrial growth as a foremost priority, so as to build and sustain resilient infrastructure that meets the demands of a growing population and a dynamic economy
It also intends to promote sustainable energy solutions, empower Nigerian engineers and foster innovation, which are the core of every great nation as a skilled workforce.
The president, represented by the Minister of State for Works, Mohammed Bello Goronyo made the call at the 2024 International Engineering Conference, Exhibition and Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in Abuja.
The theme of this year’s conference, “Sustainable Engineering Solutions to Food Security and Climate Change,” according to the President, reflects the shared belief that, with skilled hands, sharp minds and a strong sense of purpose, the government can engineer a better, more prosperous Nigeria.
“This is premised on the fact that engineering sits at the heart of progress in today’s world, where technology and innovation are constantly reshaping industries, economies, and lives.
“Engineers are not just builders; they are problem solvers, creators, and the architects of our future,” the president further stressed.
To this end, he urged the engineers to continue striving for excellence, to embrace innovation, and to contribute their skills and talents to the Nigeria,” Tinubu stated.
Earlier, the Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR), Tajudeen Abbas, who was also represented, highlighted the aptness of the theme as aligning with Nigeria’s economic blueprint. He underscored the vital role of engineering in addressing Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit, through initiatives like the National Integrated Infrastructure Masterplan while also advocating for stronger collaboration between engineers and the public toward enhancing infrastructure development, likewise economic growth.
In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, emphasised the critical role of engineering in achieving sustainable food systems, which align with the government’s priority to combat food production challenges, highlighting factors like insecurity, vagaries of the weather and economic distributions that have impacted on food security. He reiterated the need for expertise and the importance of collaboration between engineers and the agriculture sector toward implementing practical solutions.
In a statement, he said that the theme of the event succinctly captures the administration’s commitment under the “Renewed Hope Agenda” to ensure food security and tackle climate challenges.