A two-day National Workshop on Promotion of Local Inventors of Science, Technology, and Innovation was held last week by the Senate Committee on Science and Technology in Awka, Anambra State. It featured many stakeholders who through incisive discourse proffered ideas and solutions to the country’s technological advancement and need to shift attention to local Innovations, CAJETAN MMUTA reports.

It was a flurry of activities during the weekend as professionals and stakeholders drawn from various shades of opinions in the country including the academia, captains of industry, inventors, the political class and the informal sector converged on Awka, the Anambra State capital.

The gathering was not only incisive but also revealing and apt in all ramifications. Expository as the event remains, the personalities were out for the two-day business of National discussion which was described by many as the first of its kind and even with the high expectations that more such engagements should take place in the Light of the Nation-State.

Indeed, it was a two-day National Workshop with the theme: “Promotion of Local Investors of Science, Technology, and Innovation.” The venue was in the bowel of the International Convention Centre (ICC) Awka.

Leading the speakers and guest lecturers with various paper presentations was the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, former Senate President and ex-Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the host Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo, governors of the five South-East states and their counterparts from the Edo, Bayelsa and Delta states, senators as well as several other guests and staff of the ministry of science, technology and innovation from Abuja and the Southeast and South-South geo-political zone.

Not left out in attendance were traditional rulers, President Generals of various town unions in the seven local government areas of the Central zone of the state, students of select secondary and primary schools, and support groups.

Over 30 exhibitions from different science, technology, and innovation hubs, agencies and establishments, inventors, and others were on the ground to add colour to the epoch-making ceremony. The event, sponsored by the Senate, was the brainchild of the Senator representing Anambra Central senatorial district, Senator Uche Ekwunife, who is also the Chairman, the Senate Committee on Science and Technology.

Stakeholders at the workshop charted the course for Nigeria’s science, technology, and Innovation advancement.

The Vice President capped the discourse with a task on Nigerians to shift the emphasis on foreign goods, technologies and innovations and to embrace locally produced goods and services.

Represented by the Minister of State, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Chief Ikechukwu Ikoh, the Vice President maintained that the workshop was unique to reappraise and rebrand the Nigerian innovation ecosystem.

He said, “The Vice President has been championing the adoption of innovative technology.” According to Yemi Osinbajo, “To bridge the gap between the poor and rich is through thinking out of the box, innovation, and commercialization.” He noted that “Nigeria will be great when we shift our emphasis from a consuming nation. We must rely on production, that is the only way to go”, says the Minister.”

Also, the former Senate President said that Nigeria’s bright future is not a distant one, adding that the citizens should expect some of the key imperatives to dominate our world as early as the next five years.

Anyim said, “Our world has certainly changed with the infusion of the fourth industrial revolution and in a very short while from now, talents and innovations are going to be the only dependable capital assets.”

He pointed out that “Government must make itself relevant through proactive legislation to provide a regulatory framework for operations of investors and innovators in the second quarter of 21st century,” stressing that “On the other hand, inventors and innovators should aim and Target venture capitals or get so attractive or disruptive for a buyout.”

Anyim said, “Our world has certainly changed with the intention of the 4th industrial revolution as in a very short while from now, talents and innovations are going to be the only dependable capital assets.”

Quoting Klaus Schwab in his call on the global polity to prepare for the effect of 4th industrial revolution, the former Senate President said.

”We stand on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work and relate to one another. In its scale, scope, and complexity, the transformation will be unlike anything humankind has experienced before.

“We do not yet know just how it will unfold, but one thing is clear, the response Tobit must be integrated and comprehensive, involving all stakeholders of the global polity from the public and private sector to academia and civil society,” he added.

Host Governor Soludo tasked the Senate Committee on STI to mainstream patronising local innovators as a National policy.

Soludo said that the most important thing we can do to promote and encourage local inventors and innovators is to patronize them. He told the audience that Anambra is one of the safest states in Nigeria and home of STIs.

Describing STI as the new way of life, Soludo noted that Anambra is the place for practical innovation.

“Anambra is the home to Nigeria’s first Automotive Industrial Park that will be located at Akwihedi, Nnobi, and Uga. We are now completing the first phase of the development. Bigger fundraising of over $250m will kick off the project,” Soludo said.

Commending the Senate Committee for organising the workshop, Soludo prayed the message sink in every nook and cranny of the country, reiterating that every state in the country must be building the foundations for STI.

“We are mainstreaming STI to fundamentally become a way of life, particularly in our schools. Every teacher will have the enabling technological tool to be able to impact our children.”

The governor stated, “Part of our vision is to make Anambra the digital tribe of Nigeria. The most important thing that all of us can do to promote STI and research is to patronize local inventors.

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“Everywhere else in the world, the Government and people patronize their own. Here in Anambra, we are promoting made-in-Anambra. If you produce and innovate it here, we will patronize you,” he said.

Continuing he stated, “When you look at me, the shoe I am wearing is made in Anambra. The cloth I am wearing is handmade by women in the Akwete community, Abia State.

“These women are innovators and inventors. The only way to promote Akwete is to patronize the innovators. Since I started the Akwete revolution, the pricing per unit has increased and many more people have been employed in Akwete production.

“If they innovate, invent and nobody patronizes them, it goes to nullity. When you come to Anambra Government House, we are not offering you imported wines. You will drink palm wine and eat food made in Anambra.

“When you wear the things that are imported abroad, you are creating jobs abroad because they will employ more people to manufacture those goods and ship to you. And we will be crying about unemployment.

According to him, “The only car that is manufactured and not assembled in Nigeria is Innoson made in Anambra. And that is the car the Governor of Anambra is driving. Hopefully, when this kind of event is organised next year, we should be able to showcase products made in Nigeria,” Soludo further stated.

In her welcome address, Ekwunife called for the commercialisation of local Innovations and inventions to encourage local manufacturers and boost youth employment.

Ekwunife said, “Evidence from around the world has proved that research and innovation are necessary growth determinants that must work together to attain sustainable national growth and development.

“Innovation can be commercialised by firms but in Nigeria, only a small proportion of entrepreneurial start-ups are engaged in radical innovation.”

According to her “In this era of rapidly changing technology and reduced product life cycles, a country’s ability to develop and successfully commercialize innovation has become a key competitive strength.”

The senator pointed out that “One of the major objectives of this workshop is mainly to improve on the present understanding of the role of research and innovation in the socio-economic development of Nigeria and to accelerate Nigeria from a resource economy to a knowledge-based economy.”

She noted that “research in our higher institutions and research centres are mainly for graduation projects and promotion and not for national development. This trend should be reviewed and reversed. Research should be market driven for development and problem-solving. Ironically, these days, lecturers in tertiary institutions are being evaluated based on the number of papers they were and publish.”

Ekwunife said, “The challenge of sustainable economic development in Nigeria is a result of the inability of Nigeria to increase productivity within its economy. It is pertinent to emphasize that any nation that wants to increase productivity must diversify economically and to diversify, science, technology, and innovation must be put on the front burner of its developmental agenda through efficient buy-in from the relevant stakeholders and users of research outputs,” she added.

She expressed optimism that the workshop will continue to grow because it would create synergy with academia, industry, and government, adding that STI should see as a critical sector and also a key driver that would lead Nigeria to the path of industrialization.

“This workshop used to hold in Abuja but as Chairman of the Committee, I decided to bring it home. You can’t talk about innovation and invention without speaking about Anambra State,” she added.

“We have a Governor who since the inception of his campaign, vowed to drive a made-in-Nigeria car. From the day he was sworn in, we were served Abacha and Nkwu as a meal, his family wore Akwete, and he kept to his promise.”

Continuing she explained that “We brought this workshop to Anambra to conform and align with Governor Soludo’s vision and aspiration, to be in tandem with the promises of his government.”

“I must thank Governor Soludo for inspiring us. We all belong to different political parties but this is a professional setting and a noble thing we are doing today,” she stressed.

Engr (Prof) Mohammed S. Haruna who is the chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure of Nigeria (NASEN) in his keynote speech said the Senate committee has demonstrated uncommon support for the development of STI.

He added that the workshop has to boost the ambiance of mutual understanding which is worthy of emulation by all.

Several papers were presented by some lecturers during the workshop amongst which include a paper on Aquaculture presented by an inventor, Dr Emeka Iloghalu; Dr. Ezenwa Chukeuze, an Inventor based in Awka spoke on “Adulterated Red Palm Oil; Prof Stanley Useh, a Biotechnologist and Dean of the Faculty of Bio-Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka delivered a part on “Horticultural Revolution, Climate Change And Food Security” and others.

The glitz and glamour of the event were further boosted by the cultural dance by members of the Anambra State Cultural troupe.

Also, there were the presentation of certificates of participation and awards to some selected schools and others’ outstanding inventions whose creativity bolstered that workshop.