Nigeria: Metallurgy - FG Told to Support Science And Technology

Abuja
The federal government has been told to "support science and technology" as a deliberate means of developing the nation's metal-based industries.
Director general of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr. David Okongwu, made this call at the just concluded 3-day Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Metallurgical Society (NMS).

Okongwu, who had earlier called for innovation in all fields of metallurgy, however, hinted that the rules of World Trade Organisation (WTO), notwithstanding should not be a barrier should the nation decide to support science and technology.
"There is a big role for the government of Nigeria in the technological development plan of the country by being an enabler of learning and capability acquisition. Governments all over the world have assisted their nationals in various ways to acquire specific technological capabilities. Even in the face of WTO rules, smart governments deliberately and massively support science and technology," he said.
Okongwu's challenge to the federal government follows his desire to create an indigenous capacity on which an endogenous growth would be based.
According to the NOTAP boss, who had earlier noted that innovation would ensure the stability of metals in diverse environments, the scientific, technological, engineering community and the associated institutions of higher learning are among the most critical sources for innovation.

"They promote knowledge generation and its investment for economic development. To acquire technological knowledge as a basis for endogenous growth, there is need to create indigenous capacity to train scientists, technologists and engineers in relevant fields. This calls for universities, the business sector and professional bodies to promote learning and investment in scientific and technical education, training and learning," he hinted.
The NOTAP boss further noted that there is need to strengthen the scientific and technical skills base of the country to make its development endogenously driven if the objectives of the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) are to be met.
"Economic activity is highly dependent on highly specific capabilities that are partly provided through markets and partly provided by the state. This creates a serious problem for the government in supplying these capabilities as it cannot rely on market mechanism for information and incentives. Creating a structure that can do this for existing activities is in itself a serious challenge. It involves deep complimentarity between state and market that can only be achieved in an environment of extensive public-private co-operation," Okongwu said.
Source: allafrica.com
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