Abuja – Alhaji Abdul-Fatah Shittu, the Director of Operations, National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), has advised Dr Ogbonaya Onu the new Minister of Science and Technology, to give priority attention to knowledge-based research institutes.
He gave the advice on Thursday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He argued that knowledge-based research institutes have the potential to create millions of job opportunities for the youths and wealth for the country.
He said that such step would be in line with the agenda of the federal government to create jobs and empower the youths.
“The government of President Muhammadu Buhari is a government that said its focus is to change the status quo of unemployment among the youth population.
“The minister of Science and Technology must give attention to agencies that promote jobs and wealth creation.
“Agencies such as NBTI that train entrepreneurs to become self employed should be given priority attention to contribute to national development.
“The minister should make sure that adequate funds are deployed to research centres and institutions that build strong workforce that can add value to national development,’’ he said.
Shittu stated that knowledge-based research institutes should be well equipped and be purpose driven to encourage inventions by youths.
He said: “this will encourage the youths to go into wealth creation enterprises that will be service and production oriented.
“By so doing, the economy will grow from consumer oriented economy to production based economy and this will lead to creation of jobs.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“When this is done, our universities and polytechnics will also become real citadel of learning and research and our graduates will be adequately equipped to face a competitive world of commerce,’’ he said.
The director said that Nigeria had all it needed to build a strong and virile economy and urged the minister must look inward. (NAN)
banker of the day - FREE banker tips from experts