EU-FGN Collaboration will Help Unlock Nigeria’s STI Potential – Stakeholders
Some stakeholders in Nigeria’s Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) sector on Wednesday called for collaborative efforts to advance the sector and unlock the nation’s potential.
The stakeholders made the call at the just-concluded Nigeria-EU Innovation Days event in Lagos, which had the theme: “Ideas Meet Action”. The two-day event, which commenced on July 9, was organised by the European Union (EU) and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The event brought together representatives from Nigeria and Africa at large, as well as European research and innovation ecosystems to discuss the innovation opportunities for researchers in e-Health, Agritech and Industry Ecosystem.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, said that the collaboration between the European Union (EU) and the Federal Government of Nigeria would help to enhance research in technology innovation.
Nnaji said the collaboration would advance technology development and unlock Nigeria’s potential to explore the world of technology.
The Minister, who was represented by the Director-General, National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Dr. Matthew Adepoju, said that technology innovation remained the engine of economic growth for any nation.
“This collaboration will enhance capacity building, and government is committed to ensuring good support system from all stakeholders in the private sector and academia that will drive collaboration and innovation,’’ he said.
In her opening remarks, the Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, said that Nigeria was on the cusp of technological revolution with a vision to harness the power of Science, Innovation, and Technology (STI).
She said that this vision would drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for all Nigerians.
She noted that Nigeria’s Science, Innovation, and Technology Roadmap encapsulated this vision which laid out a comprehensive plan for achieving these goals.
According to her, the Ministry of Youth Development is guided by three fundamental pillars: promoting STEM education, encouraging entrepreneurship and startups and fostering international collaborations.
“The Nigeria of tomorrow will be a nation that consumes technology and creates it. It will be a nation that does not just export resources but ideas. It will be a nation where every child regardless of background can become a scientific pioneer,” the minister said.
According to her, this is the Nigeria the ministry will build together and the time for action is now.
“Let the Nigeria-EU Innovation Days be the spark that ignites a scientific revolution on African soil,” Bio-Ibrahim said.
Presenting the AU-EU Innovation Agenda at the forum, Dr Vincenzo Lorusso, the EU co-Chair of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda Working Group, highlighted the long-standing partnership between the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU)
Lorusso highlighted the partnership in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), emphasising the importance of collaboration for tackling global challenges.
He said that in today’s world, innovation was crucial for addressing global issues and achieving sustainable development. According to him, the EU-Africa Innovation Agenda is a roadmap for driving innovation on the African continent.
Lorusso said that the agenda focused on four key areas: fostering innovation for a more peaceful and secure Africa and encouraging innovation to drive economic growth and job creation.
The other two key areas, he said, are developing innovative solutions to combat climate change and promote sustainable energy use, and harnessing innovation to improve social development and empower people.
According to him, the agenda included short, medium, and long-term actions with clear implementation plans. Lorusso said that stakeholders would benefit from access to funding, networking opportunities, and collaboration platforms.
He mentioned examples of successful initiatives undertaken under the agenda, demonstrating its potential for positive impact.
Lorusso stressed that the EU-Africa Innovation Agenda remained a game-changer for African innovation and expressed optimism that in the future, the agenda would unlock Africa’s vast potential.
In her remarks, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi, said the Nigeria-EU Innovation Days event was being organised in Nigeria for the first time. She celebrated the remarkable synergy between Nigerian and European research institutions, universities and innovators.
Isopi said that the platform was where ideas met action, showcasing the best of collaborative efforts in healthcare, agriculture, industry and the creative sectors.
She described innovation as the cornerstone of progress and that the Nigeria-EU Innovation Days provided an unparalleled opportunity. According to her, the opportunity exists for researchers and innovators to showcase their work, network with potential partners, and explore new avenues for collaboration.
“We believe that by supporting these efforts, we can unlock solutions to some of our most pressing challenges,” Isopi said.King Charles Wishes England Well for Euro Final
