By Cross Udo, Abuja
As part of measures to protect local inventions, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamara, has recommended the banning of all foreign goods that Nigeria can produce locally.
Speaking yesterday at the Ministerial Media Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he regretted that most of the inventions by agencies under the ministry are gathering dust on shelves because of a lack of investors.
He said the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation is having a challenge taking research outputs to the market, saying that it is only when that is done that it would be seen as doing something.
According to him, while the ministry would continue to engage the relevant stakeholders, it is also thinking of legislation to compel the protection of the inventions before pushing them to the market.
Asked what was being done with all the several inventions by the ministry, Mamora said: “What do we do with all these inventions? It’s a question that we have also been pondering about. It will interest you that virtually all our agencies have come up with one invention or the other.
“But the challenge had always been taking these research outputs to the market. Because until and unless we can take them to the market, we would not be seen to have been able to do something.”
While noting that the ministry’s gradual steps may be slow, he added: “We need to do more in terms of having that handshake between the research institutions and the market through investors and those who are interested- people that move around with their capital and would want to invest.
“So, it is a challenge that we know we are still facing which we need to do more about it. There are so many outputs that are still gathering dust on the shelves of various agencies.
“So, what we are doing is to continue to engage to continue to have fora for this engagement where we can bring all stakeholders together.
“We are fond of talking about this triple helix, since the agencies, the academia, industries, and others so that we can have this interaction and people can know that look, we need this let’s take this to market.”
Mamora stressed the need for people to be aware of the inventions and desire them, saying, “Then we are also looking at how we can compel as it were maybe through legislation that once these things are available, particularly if they are patents because we also need to protect the intellectual property of the inventors.
“Then we can just push them to the market. So the challenge is about getting investors that will take these things out there and these things can then be useful to our people. Again, we also have a duty in terms of our nationalism.
“One of the challenges again is we have developed a taste that is not local, but rather an alien taste. We have this tendency to want to get something from abroad.
“Again, I think the government needs to come hard in terms of a total banning, as it were of things that we can do locally. That is where nationalism comes in. So we are pushing it, we appreciate that.
“But we are not holding our arms because it’s not the best for us in this circumstance to just have inventions that are gathering dust on the shelves. So we are trying to do our best.”
*As FG produces drugs for sickle cell, obesity
Speaking on the mission of the ministry, he said it was to be the foremost National Science, Technology, and Innovation Establishment in Africa comparable with the best in the world.
Besides, he said the mission statement was to deploy Science, Technology, and Innovation in achieving a sustainable knowledge-based economy for the Nation.
On the contribution of the ministry to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GPD), Mamora said, “From 2015 to 2022, Nominal GDP grew from ₦94.4trn to ₦199.34trn by 2022, and the STI sector improved from ₦3.93trn in 2015 to ₦5.35trn by 2022.
“Invariably, STI contribution to Nominal GDP is 4.2 per cent in 2015 but dropped for obvious reasons (ASUU strike) to 2.7 per cent by 2022. In 2015, Real GDP at ₦69.02trn recorded ₦2.52trn for the STI component which is a contribution of 3.7 per cent but by 2022, Real GDP rose to ₦74.64trn and STI contribution of ₦2.4trn translates to 3.2 per cent contribution.
“This trend analysis shows annual average STI contribution of 3.6 per cent and 3.5 per cent for Nominal GDP and Real GDP respectively. Impressively it looks small, but indeed highly commendable when subjected to comparative analysis among the 46 specific activity sectors of the GDP.
“It is indeed inspiring that in real terms, the STI contribution enhanced in the position of ranking among 46 specific sectors of the economy from 11th position in the Nominal GDP to 9th position in the Real GDP for the 2022 fiscal year.
“As part of the government’s desire to improve food security in the nation and reduce the pressure on conventional food sources, government through the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (FMSTI) developed improved varieties of certain crops to serve as alternative sources for the industrial sector.
“These alternatives include: The use of Tacca (false yam) for the production of starch and glucose syrup which would reduce pressure on the use of yam, cassava, and maize for the production of these industrial materials (RMRDC)
“In a similar vein, technology has been developed for the extraction of glucose syrup and ethanol from Sweet Sorghum, which otherwise would have been sourced from the aforementioned food sources.
“The Agricultural Crop Boosting Programme of the Ministry through RMRDC developed improved seeds/seedlings which are distributed to farmers across the Federation. Since 2015, the following major crops were distributed to farmers: sesame, maize, soybeans, cowpea, rice, ginger, banana, plantain, rice, cashew, sugarcane, tomato, okra, stevia, sugar beet, groundnut, amongst others.”
On the support of Medicare and the health of Nigerians, the Minister said, “In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry embarked on non-pharmaceutical products development including; various models of environmental disinfectant sprayer tunnels, multi-surface disinfectant spray and Nano-enhanced disinfectant and sanitiser products
“Alcohol-based and non-alcoholic hand sanitiser gel and fabricated hand sanitising kiosk. Solar-powered smart washing machines and pedal-operated hand washing machines. Three-dimension (3D) face mask and ventilators.”
He further said, “Other important achievements in the health-related sector include the use of local herbs, plants, and traditional medical technology in the production of drugs for the treatment of terminal illness and diseases.
“Some of these include; Production of Nutraceuticals for the management of diseases like Sickle Cell Anaemia. Development of Antilipemic/Hypolipidemic snacks from selected fruits for the management Of Obesity Snacks & Fruits from FIIRO, Lagos.
“Utilisation of Neem extracts for the production of Neem Skin Care Oral Hygiene products. Development of Antihypertensive Drinks from selected local raw materials Development of Anti-Sickling phytol drugs from selected local raw materials.”
