The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has called for the protection of intellectual property of Inventors and innovators saying it will attract investors to the country.
Dr. Onu said this, when he received the President and board members of the Materials Science and Technology Society of Nigeria (MSN), in his office in Abuja at the weekend.
A signed statement by Ifeoma Irondi o dictates that the minister is of the opinion that Intellectual property will help add value to raw materials and convert them to goods and services needed by Nigerians”.
According to him, the Federal Government has developed policies including the National Strategy For Competitiveness In Raw Materials And Products Development In Nigeria, National Leather And Leather Products Policy, The Executive Order 5 and Methanol Fuel Policy Technology with the overall objective to reposition the nation’s economy.
Dr. Onu said that the recently approved guideline lines for implementing Executive Order 5 will propel Nigeria to emerge as a global economic giant.
The Minister further noted that for Nigeria to truly achieve its potential of being a self-reliant economy, more attention and investment needs to be paid to the development of Science, technology and Innovation.
He however called on young Nigerians to be ambassadors of Science, Technology and Innovation, so as to enable them participate and invest in STI.
Dr. Onu commended the society for its work and gave assurances of his Ministry to collaborate with them.
Earlier the president of the Materials Science and Technology Society (MSN) of Nigeria, Prof. Esther Ikhuoria said that her society wants to collaborate with the Ministry in areas of research.
She added that the society wishes to be chartered in order to enhance service delivery to Nigerians.
The society awarded the minister as a fellow of the Materials Science and Technology Society.
