Science and Technology, Panacea to Econo-Political Stability – Abubakar

Professor Mohammed Abubakar, minister of Science and Technology, has urged that more emphasis should be placed on the development of science and technology in Nigeria, saying no nation can be economically and socio-politically independent without scientific and technological self-reliance.
The Minister made the remark in Kaduna while commissioning the pilot plant for the production of laboratory chemicals and reagents for schools and colleges in Nigeria.
He maintained that there would be no short cut to the nation being prosperous except through Science and Technology, noting that technology spins wealth.
The Minister stated “technology is therefore the inexhaustible oil wealth of the future. We, as a nation have no choice than to imbibe technology and make it a way of life. It is known fact that technological development is an expensive venture, but it creates wealth which is second to none and changes the status of a nation from being a developing country to a developed country.”
He added, “I want to strongly appeal to the national legislators to always make adequate budgetary provision to the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.”
Abubakar disclosed that the setting up of the pilot was not only important but also very timely, stressing, “it was informed by the decision of the National Council of Science and Technology (NCST) in consideration of the high cost of importing these chemicals despite the fact the country has the potentials to produce them locally.
 “The programme will go a long way in uplifting the standard of education and stimulate interest in science-related courses which is presently dwindling. It will also reduce the chances of adulteration of the chemicals which most of the time affect the performance of students in examinations.”
The Minister appealed that the nation should have a fully designed, built and commissioned Nigeria Chemical Industry for the production of the commonly utilized laboratory chemicals for Nigeria schools and colleges.
Dr. O.O Osusu , chairman governing board of National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria , in his speech said the commissioned chemical and reagent laboratory would be the flagship in the local production of school chemicals, thereby reducing the country’s extreme dependence on the use of imported and oftentimes adulterated school chemicals and reagents.
According to him, “this too I believe will not only increase the interest of our students in science education but will also save the nation’s hard earn foreign exchange.”