FG to establish 6 technology centres
The Federal Government will establish centres for acquisition of technology in the six geopolitical zones of the country for the promotion of technology utilization, strengthening of technology management capability and information management system.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, disclosed this at the SouthWest National dialogue on the Presidential Executive Order 5 in Ibadan, a statement from the ministry said yesterday.
According to the Minister, “all foreign experts working in Nigeria have to be certified by the appropriate regulatory bodies. In such case, effort will be intensified to train Nigerians to have the same skills. No expatriate quota will be granted unless such skills are completely unavailable”.
Speaking further, the Minister who was represented by the Director, Legal, in the Ministry, (Mrs) Yvonne OduThomas added that “goods that are consumed in very large quantities will have to be manufactured locally, in the shortest possible time”.
Dr, Onu added also said, “A presidential Monitoring Evaluation Council with Mr. President as the Chairman will oversee the general implementation of the Executive Order while the Secretariat is domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology”.
Earlier, in welcome address the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Bitrus Bako Nabasu, said that the “Presidential Executive Order 5 “for Planning and Execution of Projects, Promotion of Nigerian Content in Contract and Science, Engineering and Technology” is a deliberate step by this administration to usher in a new dawn in Nigeria”. his