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From Magnus Eze, Abuja
The Federal Government has instituted a competition for parastatals and agencies in the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The minister, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who disclosed this in Abuja, yesterday, said a Competitiveness Assessment Committee (CAC) comprising Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS), Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), National Universities Commission (NUC), Science Association of Nigeria (SAN) and Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), would soon be inaugurated to drive the process.
He said the efforts of the ministry in repositioning the sector led to increase in number of patents granted.
He disclosed that five patents were granted in 2015, the number rose to 16 in 2016 and had in the last 10 months upped to 38.
He said the ministry was working with reputable companies to commercialise products and services from its research and innovation.
Onu explained: “The committee is expected to assess each agency on its adherence to its mandate, as it affects the quality and relevance of its research and innovation to national development, the number of patents granted, number of commercialized research results, among many others.
“This award will be given every two years to give enough time for the assessment of work done. Many incentives will be put in place to encourage those Agencies that will distinguish themselves.
“There will be monetary incentive for research purposes, made available to the three top Agencies.
“The best will get N1billion, the second, N500million and the third, N200million. The Science and Technology Promotion Department (STPD) will supervise the CAC.”
