Nigeria Must Embrace Science, Technology, Innovation To Achieve SDG Target By 2030 ― Pantami
It has been stressed that the most effective way for Nigeria to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target by the year 2030, is embracing science, technology and innovation.
These if fully implemented will ensure that the country becomes a fully digitized economy that will, in turn, be a catalyst for multi-sectoral development.
The assertion was made by the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Second National Conference of the School of Science and Technology, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, held at the ASUP Secretariat, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi.
The Minister who was represented by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Galaxy Backbone PLC, Professor Muhammad Bello Abubakar, said that the seat of science, technology and innovation is in the educational institution as it produces the manpower that drives the digital economy.
He further said that through the advent of accessible information, communication technologies and ICT, Nigeria has seen a huge transformation and acceleration in its economic development and diversification.
He added that “a significant number of today’s information and communication technologies are tools of the digital economic infrastructure, promoted by the federal government national digital economic policy strategy of 2020 to 2030”.
According to Isa Pantami, “The need for our educational and health institutions to have the infrastructure that will make it possible for them to operate and impact knowledge digitally is very important, hence we cannot underestimate the huge role science and technology play in digital economies and the strengthening of Sustainable Development goals”.
The Minister added that, “Building the organization of today and playing their roles in providing employment, creating enabling environment for businesses to thrive for the upliftment of the standard of living of the people will fail if we do not put in the right investment, that is the human and material investment, in ensuring that all that is required is put in place for that purpose. In a way”. , I am saying that all these things will fail if the graduates or students you have been training are not trained very well in order to drive the economy” he said
In a lead paper presentation, The Dean Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University and Director, Center for Biotechnology, Research and Training (CBRT), Professor Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu, said that the ultimate goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is to end poverty, save the planet and ensure peace and prosperity in the world by 2030, but noted that 9 years to the 2030 target, Nigeria has not made any appreciable progress.
According to him, “Industrialization is widely acknowledged as the singular most driving factor for economic development and growth. No developed economy in the world today can achieve enduring growth and development without an advanced manufacturing capability” he said.
In his remarks, Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Arch Sanusi Waziri Gumau stressed the importance of science education to the development of the country considering the new world order.
He also said that technology advancement is what is required now in order for the country to catch up with other developed economies stressing that innovation rather than transfer of technology should be more encouraged.
SOURCE: Tribuneonline