COVID- 19 revives efforts to build robust science, technology- driven system
THE United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) has said that the global Covid- 19 pandemic is a wake up call for the Nigerian government and other countries to invest and build a robust Science, Technology and Innovation ( STI) ecosystems.
Director, Dakar Regional Office and Officer In Charge, Abuja Regional Office, Dr. Dimitri Sanga, who stated this at capacity building on Science Technology and Innovation ( STI) policy design and review process: recent advances and methodology in Abuja, said reports have shown that countries that responded to the epidemic, mobilised scientific, social and industrial capabilities of their country and international scientific coalition through open access to scientific knowledge and information data sharing and evidence- based policy decision making.
He observed that this inter dimensional STI ecosystem is ecosystem in many developing nations especially Africa is either weak or in adequate
Sanga said that for STI to work for sustainable development and address ongoing challenges, appropriate STI policy frameworks need to be developed adding that UNESCO provides technical advice, methodologies and guidance to governments on the design, monitoring and implementation of STI policies as integral part of national development of policies and plans.
He noted that the 2030 agenda with its set 17 Sustainable Development Goals ( SGDS), adopted by the international community in 2015, recognized the central role played by STI in fostering sustainable development globally and in the continental level and in line with the Agenda 2030, the African Union Agenda 2063 has been developed with focus on STI to among others, accelerate the socio - economic transformation of the continent.
Also speaking, Minister of
State for Science and Technology, Mohammed Abdullahi said that the STI sub sector is a fun catalyst for industrialization adding that the present administration has resolved to use the STI tool in driving other sectors of the economy. He observed that the STI sector recorded giant strides in the eight years of the implementation of the extant national STI policy.