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From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, has said Nigeria must commercialise research findings and reduce dependence on foreign technology to achieve economic independence.
Udeh spoke yesterday in Abuja at a media parley on the second African Raw Materials Summit (ARMS 2026), organised by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).
He said science, technology and innovation were fundamental to national development, stressing that heavy reliance on foreign technology limited a country’s economic and political independence.
“The foundation of advancement is innovation, science and technology. If you are dependent, you are not yet free or independent as it relates to technology, science and innovation. You can’t actually be independent politically and economically,” he said.
Commercialising research, he added, would accelerate industrialisation, create opportunities and strengthen Nigeria’s productive capacity.
Udeh said achieving President Bola Tinubu’s $1 trillion economy target required the deployment of science, technology and innovation to build a knowledge-based economy.
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“If we would move from where we are, in terms of the economy, to the targeted $1 trillion GDP, then we have to mobilise our science, technology and innovation to make it work,” he said.
He said ARMS 2026 would review progress since the maiden summit, assess performance, identify gaps and develop measures to address outstanding challenges.
Participants would include African ministers responsible for science, technology and innovation, officials overseeing raw materials, researchers, investors, development partners and industry leaders.
On the proposed amendment to the RMRDC Act, Udeh said the bill contained incentives to encourage industry players to undertake a minimum of 30 per cent value addition to raw materials.
The incentives, he said, would encourage compliance and support implementation of the proposed policy.
RMRDC Director-General, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, commended the minister’s support for the council, the proposed legislation and initiatives to strengthen Nigeria’s raw materials sector.
