Senator Uche Ekwunife, PhD, has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari on his commitment to the advancement of science and technology in the last seven years of his administration.
The senator, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, also declared that the benefits from the development of science and technology have greatly impacted the growth of the economy.
Ekwunife spoke at the official commissioning of the Muhammadu Buhari Technology and Innovation Centre at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Headquarters, Abuja.
The chairman, Senate Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, who represented the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, PhD, CON, at the event.
The federal lawmaker noted that science, technology and engineering are the basic preconditions for a prosperous economy in the 21st Century economy.
She noted that the country’s efforts in boosting indigenous innovation are the right step towards improving the Nigerian brand across the world.
Ekwunife stressed that the Federal Goverment has made concerted efforts in encouraging innovation by improving funding to relevant agencies and also through the training and retraining of researchers, among others.
Acknowledging that the world has moved toward the path of innovation, the A-grade lawmaker congratulated the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Professor M.S Haruna, for his transformational leadership and successes recorded by the agency in the fulfillment of its mandate.
Earlier, President Buhari assured of his administration’s commitment to the development of Science, Technology and Innovation.
He said NASENI, which has not been able to attain its full potential over the years, is now domesticating foreign technologies and product development through backward integration.
The president said the agency, under his watch as the chairman of Governing Council, has invented useful and historic intelligence and defence-related equipment and devices in collaboration with reputable organisations, Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) with advanced features and Mine Resistant Ambushed Protected (MRAP).
Buhari assured that it would be a pivotal legacy his administration will bequeath to the next administration in 2023, adding; “This is one pivotal legacy of this administration. With this complex and available facility, the future of our national competitiveness among global economies is promising.
“We are sure that these advanced Science and Engineering Core facilities will assist our nation in the attainment of Africa Union’s 2063 Agenda and United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, 2030.”
