By Omotunde Alawode
There is an old African saying that gold is sold to those who know the value. Unarguably, this fittingly describes the choice of Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023 as Nigeria’s Minister of Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology.
That the lot fell on him among many nominees for the same position could not have come happenstance but a divinely arranged choice, predicated on his innate ability and competence in that realm.
To the pedestrian thinker, Nnaji’s appointment is merely an exercise to satisfy his political constituency ostensibly for their support in the last general election, but a discerning mind would readily not align himself with such infantile thought as no sane President of a country would hand over the fate of about 17 science and technology-based public-owned agencies and parastatals to a misfit. Nnaji, who is not a weakling by any standard, rightly deserves the appointment and his efforts so far clearly attest to the fact that he is a square peg in a square whole.
With a clear understanding of where he is headed, Nnaji as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology is keying fast into the visions of those who master-minded the expansion and renaming of the former Federal Ministry of Science and Technology on August 6, 2021 as Federal Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology. The minister is quite mindful of the ‘innovation’ component of his ministry, hence, since assumption of office, he has not left any stone unturned in the quest to innovate in certain spheres within the nation’s science and technology space.
Recently, in February 2025, Nnaji announced the official launch of the Nigeria Raw Materials Information Management System (NRMIMS), which he said would unlock the nation’s full industrial potential, enhance transparency and drive economic transformation. Speaking at the launch event, which held at the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in Abuja, the minister had emphasized that despite Nigeria’s abundant natural resources, challenges such as data gaps and poor integration have hindered optimal utilization.
“Nigeria is rich in natural resources, yet the lack of accurate, accessible data on raw material reserves, quality and locations has led to inefficiencies, high import dependence and reduced investor confidence,” he stated.
To him, the NRMIMS initiative, is a milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward industrial growth, economic diversification and sustainable development, which aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda. The minister also strongly believes that the platform would play a pivotal role in job creation and industrialization by strengthening local production and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global market. With the launch of NRMIMS, he is convinced that Nigeria is now ready to build a data-driven economy, where innovation and local resources fuel industrialization and economic prosperity. Towards achieving this, Nnaji could not hesitate to call on government agencies, researchers, private sector players and development partners to brace the initiative as active engagement and data contribution would ensure that the platform reaches its full potential.
A few months after his ministerial appointment in 2023, Chief Nnaji had launched the National Policy on Welding to further highlight the key benefits of the policy to the citizens of Nigeria and the entire nation, bearing in mind the key points of the Renewed Hope agenda of the present administration. He made it clear that the policy would, among other things, foster local employment (job creation) in welding, enabling professionals to work both nationally and internationally, just as it would stimulate economic growth, as the goal of the government is to reduce an annual revenue loss of over $10 billion by promoting local content and addressing the importation of certified welders.
From the minister’s perspective, the National Policy on Welding would also lead to the establishment of Centres of Welding Excellence, which would enhance skills (skills development) and competitiveness among local welders. Standardized practices and innovation in welding would also expedite Nigeria’s industrialization by the minister’s estimation and such industrialization would ultimately lead to global competitiveness as the policy seeks to make Nigeria’s welding sector globally competitive by emphasizing local personnel in critical economic sectors and establishing training centres where welders and artisans are expected to seize the opportunity that the National Policy on Welding provides and gain international recognition, enhance their skills, and contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and actively take part in the envisaged welding revolution.
In early November, 2023, Nnaji’s Federal Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology had linked a groundbreaking partnership with Hecate Global Renewables, heralding a new era in Nigeria’s Renewable Energy Sector. During an earlier meeting with representatives from Hecate Global Renewables (HGR), an esteemed organization from the United States with a strong presence in the renewable energy field, Nnaji had expressed his Ministry’s unwavering commitment to collaborate with companies ready to invest in the renewable energy sector.
By urging them not to only initiate new projects but also consider completing abandoned solar power initiatives scattered across Nigeria.
Later in the same month of November, 2023 Nnaji’s Ministry celebrated another milestone with the commissioning of the Database Management Centre of the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology (NiCFoST). This achievement reflects his ministry’s commitment to advancing food security and technology regulation in Nigeria. The Minister is mindful of the fact that as the first Food Science and Technology regulatory Council in Sub-Saharan Africa, NiCFoST is crucial for optimising health and economic benefits, ensuring sustainable national food security.
At that occasion, the Minister of Federal Ministry Of Innovation, Science & Technology had noted that addressing food insecurity requires collaborative efforts with a strong conviction that innovation plays a pivotal role. Nnaji, in a manner that clearly describes his personality clothed with the “I can do it” spirit firmly believes that despite budgetary challenges, NiCFoST has stepped up its activities for self-sustainability. To walk his talk, he had used the occasion of the commissioning to announce the commencement of registration for Certified Food Scientists of Nigeria, urging professionals to register promptly. This is to enable food scientists have a platform to gain their legal certification within the country.
In the light of the foregoing and many more, it in unarguable that in the science and technology innovative space, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji has much to offer the Federal Republic of Nigeria and one can only hope that with the right political decisions and consistency of policy, the country would be the better for it.