[SPOTLIGHT] Updates on the Scorecard of the Chief Uche Nnaji-led Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (2)

Isa Umar, Abuja

Building and Infrastructure

-The Ministry through NBRI has commenced Building Technology using Bamboo as an innovative cost-effective way of building houses and sensitization going on to get buy-in from the public.

-The Ministry expanded the NILEST’s scope of operation by increasing the number of extension centers across Nigeria from 9 to over 22. Expanding these extension centers underscore a commitment to decentralizing NILEST’s operations and maximizing its impact nationwide in advancing the leather sector across various regions of Nigeria.

-The Honourable Minister has revived the tanneries at NILEST’s Maiduguri and Sokoto extension centers. By the third quarter of 2024, these tanneries are poised to resume operations, each projected to produce up to 5 tons of leather weekly. This strategic move aligns with the government’s agenda of promoting local content and revitalizing critical sectors of the economy.

-In the period under review, the Minister revitalized, constructed and equipped FIIRO zonal offices in the six zones.

-Through the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), the Ministry has developed and established a Cosmic Ray Muon Detector (CRMD), developing a weather station and a continuously operating reference station. These will aid climate change atmospheric research and high-precision positioning data, which are essential for various applications such as surveying, mapping, and scientific research.

-The Ministry procured broadcast equipment for the full take-off of NSTI TV to advocate and disseminate information.

-In December 2023, the Minister launched the National Policy on Welding. This has been followed up with several agreements with the private sector for its full-scale implementation nationwide. The Ministry has concluded arrangements under the 2024 Procurement implementation to train many Welders from the six zones of the Federation and the FCT.

-Others are Development of self-ignition fire extinguisher ball devices for buildings and vehicles; Development of an Auto Gas Technology to power vehicles at lower prices and Development of an accelerometer sensor for monitoring bridges to measure the vibration of road bridges.

Information and Communication (ICT)

-Bilateral agreement for collaboration on Science, Technology and Innovation with Cuba. The Minister of Innovation, Science & Technology, Uche Nnaji, signed on behalf of Nigeria while Cuba’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment, Elba Montoya signed on behalf of Cuba.

-The Honourable Minister launched the TechAdvantage Platform on February 19, 2024, to bridge the gap between apprentices, business owners, and aspiring entrepreneurs in the tech industry, facilitating knowledge transfer and skill development.

-In April 2024, the Ministry launched the i-step Naija digital technologies program. The program is a multi-strategic socioeconomic empowerment scheme imparting up-to-date innovations to young and middle-class Nigerians for solution-driven enterprises across all spheres of the Nigerian economy.

-Through NBTI, the FMIST established Technology Incubation Centers (TICs) in the following locations: Ahuwa Oboro Ikwuano LGA, Abia State; Adikpo Benue extension; Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwo, Ogun state; Oko Polytechnic, Anambra State.

Engineering, Industrialization, Digitization, Creative Arts, Manufacturing and Innovation

-The Honourable Minister in line with his target of attracting Foreign Direct Investments has formalized collaboration with Domineum/Edenbase UK by signing a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of Abuja Tech City, which Mr. President approved. The Abuja Tech City is expected to replicate the success of the London Tech City, which generated over 61 billion pounds in its fifth year of operation. Upon its full implementation, the partnership envisions Abuja Tech City as a full-fledged smart and green city.

-Through the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, NOTAP, the Ministry facilitated the registration of 27 Patents in the management of intellectual properties in the country as a necessary step towards promoting entrepreneurship in innovation, science and technology.

-The Ministry, through NNMDA, established collaboration and partnerships with 22 organizations worldwide. These collaborations led to scholarships for staff, educational resource donations, training, and access to expensive international reference documents. These organizations include United State Pharmacopoeia (USP), Aberdeen Commercial, Evans Baroque Pharmaceutical Industry, etc.

-The Ministry, through NNMDA, established Research Farms across the country. The integrated agro-allied medicinal product development platform has resulted in medicinal eggs, medicinal garden eggs and organic bio-pesticides. This feat, which has attracted the interest of a renowned international farming association from the Netherlands, is the first integrated bio-farming with medicinal products as the output. These centers are being developed at Gberigbe in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Akure in Ondo, Jesse in Delta, Obinagu in Enugu, Karu in Nasarawa, Kano in Kano State, Jos in Plateau and Calabar in Cross River State.

-The Ministry through the Raw Material Research and Development Council, RMRDC, has developed and patented CHITOSAN. Chitosan is a naturally occurring polymer derived from the deacetylation of chitin, a key component of the exoskeletons of crustaceans, insects, and arachnids. It has a number of valuable applications in water treatment and waste water management, cosmetics and skincare, etc.

-The Honourable Minister perfected arrangements to establish a pilot state-of-the-art floating glass manufacturing facility named N-SEGMA (Nigeria Silicon and Glass Manufacturing) in Nigeria by facilitating private sector investments. This Project encompasses a silica extraction plant and a float glass production line with an annual capacity of 500,000 tons.

-The Honourable Minister concluded plans and obtained the President’s approval to set up a 2500-Ton/day Pilot Methanol Plant. The President’s focus on achieving the methanol economy revolution is to harness the vast potentials of methanol as a clean and sustainable energy source and position the Nation as a leader in Africa’s energy transition.
It also constructed a Multi-Chemical Plant for the six geopolitical zones of the country. It also established prototypes for Model Science Laboratories across the six geopolitical zones.
On April 26, 2024, the Honourable Minister concluded and Signed an MoU with Enthrust Microgrid UK to repair, maintain, repurpose, reuse, recycle, and recover advanced technological products, including electric vehicle (EV) batteries and high-value computing and electronic products, in Nigeria (“the Project”). The Project will promote the Research and Development and Utilization of our Local Lithium to manufacture batteries in Nigeria.

-The Honourable Minister launched four (4) Oral Solid Dosage Formulations at the NNMDA. The four oral products developed 100 % from our indigenous herbs using science and technology are now ready for clinical trials. The products are for managing and treating upper respiratory infections, anti-aging, sickle cell disorder, and diabetes mellitus.

-The Ministry, through NARICT, designed and developed a pilot plant to utilize indigenous technologies in salt production, intermediate chemicals, chlorine gas, Sodium hydroxide and Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) from salt deposits in Nigeria. It also developed a Semi-continuous Process Plant for extraction of essential oils from aromatic plants in rural communities of Nigeria for poverty alleviation.

Conclusion
-The Honourable Minister, Chief Uche Nnaji was quoted to have said: “It makes no sense expending money on R&D, if there are no applications in mind. My goal therefore is to push for collaboration between investors/entrepreneurs and the agencies of the Ministry. My target goes beyond the shores of Nigeria as I also work to attract international investors and Foreign Direct Investments, FDI.”

Sourced by PACESETTER from the Office of S.A, Media & Publicity to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology; Published Sectoral Updates on the Achievements of the FMIST 2023-2024; Official X and Facebook handles of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.