By Stella Azi
The establishment of Raw Materials Research and Development Council Technology and Innovation Centres in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, is expected to boost the entrenchment of Science, Technology, and Innovation throughout the country. This comes in as a vital component of the Presidential Executive Order Five (5), introduced by the Federal government in a bid to make Nigeria technologically advanced and industrialized.
The promulgation of the Presidential Executive Order Five (5) by former president Muhammadu Buhari in 2022, aims to address the planning and execution of projects, promote the nation ‘s local content in contracts, science, engineering, and technology, as a strategy to engage more Nigerian Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) indigenous professionals in the initiation, implement and execution of national projects.
Speaking at a 2-day conference of the National Consultative Committee on Global Competitiveness (NCCC) in Raw Materials and Products Development in Nigeria, organized by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC)’s Strategic Implementation Unit (SITU) at the headquarters of the RMRDC, Maitama, Abuja, the Director General Presidential Executive Order five (5), Engr. Ibiam Oguejiofor, reiterated that the conference on national competitiveness is a flagship of the FG’s commitments to local content development and that the RMRDC’s Technology and Innovation Complex at airport road, Abuja, is a starting point. He noted that the NCCC project is not the sole responsibility of RMRDC or the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, but the responsibility of all agencies of the federal government strategically selected to be members of the National Consultative Committee.
He urged MDAs and other relevant organizations to ensure that all hands are on deck towards achieving this laudable project of the federal government, and have Nigeria emerge an economic giant among committee of nations.
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According to Engr. Oguejiofor, the Presidential Executive Order five ensures that all MDAs work in accordance with their mandate, to promote global competitiveness in Local content, raw materials and products development to foster the theme of the Conference which is, ‘Harnessing local resources for diversifying Nigeria economy and enhancing global competitiveness ranking ‘.
Presenting his welcome address at the Conference, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer RMRDC Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, who did not hide his enthusiasm at the rate of representation at the conference, said it is an indication that the Strategy Implementation Task Unit (SITU), through the NCCC, promises to yield highly impactful outcomes that will propel the nation ‘s economy to an enviable height of competitiveness.
He enjoined all relevant stakeholders to seize the platform as opportunity to work together with the aim to reposition the country to develop national quality infrastructure, promote adherence to globally acceptable standards and quality assurance in raw materials and products development.
The 2-day conference witnessed the presentation of the Strategy Implementation Task Unit organogram, with the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation as Chairman and the Director General RMRDC as Vice Chairman; presentation and submission of reports by the various SITU sub-committees.
