The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, has said that the federal government will create 4.4 million jobs through the implementation of the national strategy for competitiveness in raw material and product development in Nigeria.
Nnaji stated that the implementation of the national strategy will not only enhance the creation of employment and our quest for economic diversification but will also boost local content in manufacturing to 50% and 80%, respectively, for global acceptance of made-in-Nigeria raw materials, products and services, which will ensure global competitiveness in the country.
Nnaji said this during the Conference of the National Consultative Committee on Global Competitiveness in Raw Materials and Product Development in Nigeria, with the theme: “Harnessing Local Resources for Diversifying the Nigerian Economy and Enhancing Global Competitiveness” today in Abuja.
According to the Minister, the theme ‘’Harnessing Local Resources for Diversifying Nigeria and Enhancing Global Competitiveness is aimed at championing the country’s global competitiveness diversification through investments in innovation and technology, research and development, Infrastructure and human capital development’’.
He further said that global competitiveness is the lifeblood of any thriving economy, as it underscores the ability to produce goods and services that meet the standards of the international market by strengthening the citizen’s long-term real income.
Nnaji emphasised that the nation’s part in global competitiveness lies in leveraging the enormous powers of innovation, Science and technology in value addition and indigenous industrialization of the country.
In the same vein, he said that science and technology are the cornerstones of global competitiveness, which ensures continuous investments in cutting-edge technologies that will improve the quality of local content in the nation.
To this end, Nnaji encouraged all stakeholders to continue to form strategic coalitions within the resultant production of high-quality and competitive raw material products and services to improve Nigeria’s ranking on the Global Index.
Speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Esuabana Nko Asanye who was represented by the Director, of Planning Research and Policy Analysis, Mrs. Salamatu Mohammed, said that the conference is a forum to discuss critical issues relevant to the successful implementation of the National Strategy on Global Competitiveness in Raw Materials and Product Development in Nigeria.
She further said that the conference theme is quite appropriate at this point in our national development and in recognition of the eight priority areas of the present administration.
The Director-General of Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, while welcoming the guests, said that the successful implementation of the home-grown strategy anchored on applying innovation, Science and technology to raw materials and product development is a unique change agent in the national development initiatives, adding that it will reduce the level of importation of raw materials and products into the country.
He stressed that the technical workshop allows stakeholders to deliberate on critical issues ranging from competitiveness and advocacy to the commercialization of research and development breakthroughs in the country.
