The minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has reassured the federal government’s commitment to industrial and technological development in line with the 8-point agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to empower Nigerian women and youth.
The minister said this while making his remarks at the opening ceremony of the training programme for youth and women at the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO-Developed Technologies) in Abuja on Tuesday to empower about 100 Nigerian youth and women to grow their businesses.
The women and youth are being trained in a variety of skills including cassava and potato bread production, mushroom cultivation, cosmetics, date syrup manufacturing, and the conversion of diesel generators to compressed natural gas (CNG).
The minister noted that Innovation Science and Technology are the foundations of sustainable development and economic resilience for a country like Nigeria, stressing that they play a vital role in achieving government’s priority areas.
The minister added that the initiative was in line with the policy of the government to fight poverty, drive economic growth and foster job creation saying “through scientific initiatives we leverage Science Technology and Innovation (STI) to tackle poverty, create jobs and boost economic resilience.
“Transforming our research, development and innovation into market-ready products is essential for growth and long-term sustainability. Programmes like this training help bridge the gap from research to market, generating foreign exchange and creating job opportunities.”
He commended FIIRO for their dedication to building self-reliance, adding value to local commodities, and promoting market-driven research. He also pointed out that programmes like this enable the commercialization of research and development products, which aligns with government goals of strengthening the naira and diversifying Nigeria’s economy.
“FIIRO technologies support youth and women with skills to create businesses, develop self-sufficiency and contribute to the country’s economic and social development,” Nnaji said.
He urged the participants to be dedicated to the training even as he admonished stakeholders to give them maximum support.
