Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji has said the Federal Government is committed to a robust coordination of Research, Development and Innovation, RDI, ecosystem in the country.
Nnaji, who stated this while declaring open RDI Coordination Summit tagged “Advancing Nigeria’s Global Competitiveness through a Resilient National RDI Coordination”, said RDI required “robust coordination, one that is resilient, inclusive, and forward-thinking.”
The Minister said: “our goal is to create a system where academia, industry, government and the community not only interact but thrive together, fostering an environment ripe for groundbreaking innovations.
“Our vision for Nigeria is to become a hub for African innovation, contributing significantly to the global knowledge economy. This can be achieved by implementing a three-pronged approach:
“It is imperative that we build and strengthen the institutional frameworks necessary for effective RDI coordination.
“This includes policy reforms that incentivize research and development, protect intellectual properties, and facilitate the commercialization of research outcomes.”
While harping on fostering Public-Private Partnerships, he stressed that the collaboration between the public sector, private industry, and academic institutions was crucial.
“By fostering partnerships that leverage the strengths of each sector, we can accelerate the translation of research into market-ready solutions that address our most pressing challenges.
“At the heart of any successful RDI ecosystem are the people. Investing in education and training to build a skilled workforce ready to navigate and lead in the Fourth Industrial Revolution is non-negotiable.
“We must nurture our young talents and provide them with the platforms to excel and innovate.
“The journey to enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness through resilient RDI coordination is a collective endeavour.
“It requires commitment, collaboration and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” he declared.
FG committed to coordinated research, innovation – Minister
