The Minister of Science and Technology, Abdu Bulama, on Monday, announced thatNigeria would launch its first “made-in-Nigeria” satellite by 2018.
Bulama said this in Abuja while adding that science and technology would hasten the Federal Government’s transformation agenda and sustain the growth of the national economy.
“The African economy, I believe in the last couple of years, has shown a remarkable sign of growth; but this growth is unfortunately more of community drive, not of the manufacturing sector.
“For this growth to be sustained and for it to be transformed into a real national transformation agenda for the development of the nation it must be productivity-based; productivity aspect must come in.
“And the only way you can do that is to develop your science and technology, to apply science and technology in your economy,” he said.
Bulama said the ministry was deploying science and technology apparatus to enhance the pace of socio-economic development and infrastructure such as roads, power, water supply, and transportation.
“This is against the backdrop of our cross-cutting role with other sectors of socio-economic development,” he added.
Bulama also reiterated that the agency was working hard to lead Nigeria into the new developmental model through integration of a national culture of science, technology and innovation, adding that the ministry would play the role of an effective strategist and coordinator of all the research and development activities in the country.
“By this, Nigeria in the nearest future will be an acknowledged member of the fast developing scientific and technologically progressive nations of the world,” he said.
He said the ministry has done well in the production of made -in-Nigeria tricycles, curtailing of trypanosomiasis, design and fabrication of interlocking blocks and launching of road safety guidelines among others.
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