Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has said the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari towards diversifying the nation’s economy will make Nigeria an economic hub of the continent in the next 10 years.
Playing host to the Managing Director of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Programme Development and Technical Cooperation Division, Philippe Scholtes, in Abuja at the weekend, the minister said the ministry was committed to use science and technology to save the nation by growing its economy.
Onu thanked UNIDO for its contributions globally and in Nigeria with the partnership to grow energy and agro-business.
He appealed to UNIDO to increase its efforts as well towards boosting agriculture to ensure food security in the country.
The minister specified that UNIDO’s involvement in food protection will not only lift farmers out of poverty but will tame rural-urban migration.
“We will be very happy if you could add food security because you will touch more persons and would be able to lift more persons out of poverty in Nigeria,” he said.
Earlier, Scholtes told the minister that UNIDO has earmarked $2.6 billion for the development of Small Hydro Power (SHP) plants in Nigeria in line with its mandate to promote, and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development in developing countries.
“We obtained funding for $2.6 billion to help us demonstrate the small scale hydro power to powerhouse and factories in places that have not been reached by electricity.
“This project funded by Global Environment Facility funds is meant to help countries address environment issues that can benefit the global communities,” the UNIDO boss stated.
Credit: Sun
