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The Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST) has awarded grants to 32 beneficiaries of the 2023 Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovations (PSCII).
During the award ceremony, the Minister of FMIST, Chief Uche Nnaji emphasised that the grants aim to stimulate interest among Nigerians in utilising Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to drive economic growth and national development.
“It is important to note that since the inception of the PSCII Programme in 2005, more than 600 innovators and inventors across all six geopolitical zones of the country have benefited from the grants after meeting the selection criteria,” Nnaji stated.
He also highlighted the ministry’s efforts to increase budgetary allocation for the PSCII, underscoring the need for enhanced government funding to support innovation.
“Collaborations with relevant stakeholders, such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and the National Planning Commission, are crucial for achieving the ultimate goals of the PSCII programme,” he added. “These partnerships provide a solid foundation for technological breakthroughs in the country and contribute to improving the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians.”
Nnaji represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Mrs. Esuabana Nko-Asanye, encouraged the beneficiaries to contribute to the industrialisation and socio-economic development of the nation, emphasising the importance of value addition to natural resources. He noted that transitioning from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy, driven by science, technology and innovation, is essential for Nigeria’s competitiveness on the global stage.
“The ability of Nigeria to compete and prosper increasingly depends on the deployment of technological capacities and innovations rather than solely on the exploitation of natural resources.
“Global competitiveness is expected to drive job creation, wealth generation, and improved quality of life for our people through the production of goods and services and the development of human capacities,” Nnaji remarked.
In her address, Nko-Asanye represented by the ministry’s deputy director overseeing the technology acquisition and adaptation department, Engr. Azuftama Dahiru, highlighted Nigeria’s wealth of natural resources and creative human capital, which have given rise to locally developed technologies over the years. She stressed the crucial role that Science, Technology and Innovation play in driving progress across various sectors, including communication, transportation, healthcare and the economy.
Nko-Asanye advised the grant beneficiaries to use the funds to upgrade their inventions and innovations to prototypes and commercialisation levels. She noted that the PSCII has established an effective mechanism to monitor and evaluate the implementation of these grants to ensure they are utilised for their intended purposes.
Director-general of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Patricia Chukwu also spoke at the event, noting that technological progress leads to the efficient production of better goods and services, contributing to prosperity and economic growth. She revealed that the PSCII was inaugurated to encourage technology-based domestic initiatives to foster Nigeria’s economic development.
Chukwu added that since the program’s inception, many Nigerians from all six geopolitical zones have benefited after successfully completing the selection process. This has led to the generation, creation, infusion, utilisation and proliferation of numerous need-driven inventions and innovations across the country, ultimately contributing to the well-being and happiness of the population.
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