The Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Ogbonnaya Onu, on Monday in Abuja said the ministry would work to create employment to empower the teeming Nigerian youths.
Onu made the assertion when he received a team from United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) on a courtesy visit.
The minister said creating of employment was imperative to address the challenges facing Nigerians.
“The Science and Technology sector will assume its rightful place in national development so as to make Nigeria self-sufficient in meeting the challenges of daily living.
“The sector will be fully involved in creating employment and empowering the country’s teeming youths to make meaningful contributions to national development,’’ he said.
He also said that the ministry would come up with programmes that would propel the nation to prominence in science and technology.
According to him, the ministry is ready to work with stakeholders that aim to support the plans of the sector.
The minister commended UNIDO for its activities to improve the standard of living in African, particularly in Nigeria.
Onu assured the team from UNEDO that the ministry would work closely with the organisation to fast-track development of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in Nigeria.
Earlier, the UNIDO Country Representative, Mr David Tommy, urged the Federal Government to fix the industrial skills gap in the country for sustainable development.
Tommy, who led the team from UNIDO, implored government to harness the potential of youths by investing in their training as they represented 44 per cent of Nigeria’s population.
“Most youths in Nigeria have the required qualifications, but lack the relevant skills for sustainable development in Nigeria.
“It is essential to train these youths to acquire the relevant industrial and technical skills.’’
According to him, an improved manufacturing sector will facilitate the required change vital for growth and value addition.
“Sustainable development of the country can be guaranteed only by leveraging on value addition to agricultural endowments,’’ Tommy said. (NAN)
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