Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Abdu Bulama is seeking a collaborative support from Britain to fully develop and leverage on some key components of federal government’s Transformation Agenda as they affect Science and Technology in the areas of Space Technology Programme, biotechnology, agriculture and medicine.
The Minister stated this when he received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock and his team in his office in Abuja.
He said there was need for consolidation and improvement of the accrued benefits from the mutual ties between the two nations, with the view to help the ministry in particular to achieve full implementation of its new Revised Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation.
“We want to partner with you in the area of Science, Technology and Innovation which is our statutory mandate as a Ministry.
“Nigeria’s existing and fruitful partnership with Britain over the years according to the Minister has been beneficial and has yielded positive impacts,” he said.
The Minister said the ministry will leverage on the offer by the British Government through its Newton Fund which supports research and development outputs in the sector.
Bulama further called on the British Government to implement a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries to establish a West African Science Innovation Network in Abuja.
He said the establishment of the National Research Council as an apex body for the coordination of all research activities in the country will draw support from the West African Science Innovation Network when it is put in place.
He stressed that Nigeria’s Space Technology Programme has come of age as it had launched three Satellites’ in the past which incidentally was supported by Britain.
According to him, the ministry currently through one of its agencies, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is developing a Synthetic Apperture Radar Satellite, which will be helpful in the area of security, mapping out our solid minerals deposit and, also to monitor the coastal areas of Niger Delta.
Responding, the British High Commissioner, Dr. Andrew Pocock said he was in the ministry with his team to encourage Nigeria to become an active partner in Science and Technology like South Africa.
Source: Vanguard
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