South East
FG Vows To Launch Made-In-Nigeria Products
The Federal government has vowed never to rest on its oars until made-in-Nigeria products are launched in the global market within the next five years.
Director – General / Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Office For Technology Acquisition And Promotion (NOTAP), Abuja , a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Umar Bindir said the nation has all it takes to achieve that feat.
According to him, it is against the background of bridging the existing gap between education, industry, and research institutions in the country with a view to developing the requisite infrastructure through a genuine process of information sharing that government decided to put in place agencies as NOTAP .
Speaking Monday in Enugu during the opening ceremony of a 3- Day workshop organised by NOTAP, Abuja, in collaboration with African Youth Rehabilitation Initiative (AYRI), for technologists, scientists, researchers, academia, bankers, policy makers, inventors, artisans among others for the South East zone, Dr. Bindir, regretted that 50 years after Nigeria attained her independence, the nation was yet to launch any of her indigenous products in the global market, describing the situation as unacceptable.
His words: “NOTAP is planning to ensure that Nigeria launches a product that would be accepted globally in the next 5 to 10 years. That is our target and we are working towards that despite the myriads of challenges confronting the nation’s technological sector. We will continue to strive in realizsing her dream of becoming one of the countries with the topmost economies by 2020″.
He, however, stated that his office, remained very critical in the social and economic affairs of the nation especially as it concerns technological advancement, stressing that Nigeria as a nation had for long realised the role of technology in nation building hence it established various institutions to ensure development of appropriate technology through scientific research as well as innovative activities.
The NOTAP boss regretted that much of what had been developed from the institutions had not achieved the desired goals of ensuring a sustainable industrial growth and development of the nation.
He, therefore, called on all stakeholders in the technology business to start showing serious commitment in the development of science and technology for the interest of the Nigeria, pointing out that the lack of synergy within the science, education, engineering technology and innovation SETI system has done more harm than good to the country.
Dr. Bindir also enjoined participants at the workshop with the theme: “Developing Indigenous Technology for Youth Empowerment, Employment Generation and Wealth Creation” to undertake critical analysis of all the challenges militating against the emergence of the nation as the twentieth most industrialised nations of the world by the year 2020 and come up with pragmatic steps and blue prints for the actualisation of the present administration’s 7-point agenda as well as vision 2020 using science and technology.
Said the NOTAP DG: “the forum is also scheduled for all stake holders to review, concretise as well as chart an exit path from the apparent national technology inhibiting trap, pointing out that innovators and researchers are expected to show-case their products to entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, captains of industries, among others during the three day event taking place at the Hotel Presidential in the state capital.
Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and his Anambra State counterpart, Peter Obi, who spoke through their commissioners for science and technology had during the ceremony, hailed the activities of NOTAP, admitting that no nation of the world including Nigeria could make any serious headway without the development of indigenous technology.
The police in Ebonyi State say they have discovered the body of a yet to be identified middle-aged woman in a hotel room in Abakaliki, the state capital. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Loveth Odah, stated this yesterday.
She said the body has deep cuts on the chest and neck and has been deposited in a mortuary. According to the spokesman, it was discovered at Crown Garden Hotel located along the ever-busy Afikpo road in the capital city.
Mrs Odah, who said that the victim was found in the pool of her own blood, said the suspect had been identified as one Uchenna Awoke.
She said the hotel manager, Emmanuel Eze, the supervisor, and other workers had been taken to the police station for questioning and accused the hotel management of negligence.
“The manager of the hotel, the supervisor and other staff of the hotel were taken to the station for questioning and I must confess to you that the whole thing is negligence on the part of the hotel management. How can a guest be murdered in a hotel room and days after, the management is not aware of the incident.”
“We will investigate the matter properly and I assure you, the perpetrator of the act must be arrested and prosecuted. All we are asking is for the members of the public to avail the police of useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.”
The Senate yesterday passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018.
The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge ecological challenges.
It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the President’s assent to become a law.
Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate on June 22, 2016.
Its passage in the Red Chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the Senate.
The bill, after Paulker’s presentation, was considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.
In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.
In his words, “Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this country.
“I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this country.
“This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.
Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to sign the bill into law “as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria”.
“This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that started at the end of the civil war.
“All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which is what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.
When established, the South East Development Commission would be the third zonal interventionist body in the country.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presideng Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.
Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.
In the telecast monitored in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.
“Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.
“Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.
“Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.
“Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.
“God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.
The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.
He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.
According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.
Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.
He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.
According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.
He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.
“When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained. The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.
“Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.
“God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.
He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.