By Ignatius Okorocha
Federal Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Permanent Secretary of the, Edet Sunday Akpan has called for the Organized Private Sectors (OPS) to explore ways of partnering with the various Research Institutes and Agencies in commercializing viable products and services for the nations benefit.
Mr Akpan said this when he declared open the 19th Meeting of the National Council on Science, Technology and Innovation (NCSTI) in Abuja on Monday.
The theme of the council Meeting is “Investment in Research and Development: A Necessary Tool to Improving Nigerian Economy’’.
He said that the Ministry was working tirelessly towards the reduction and elimination of the current high level of stand-alone research efforts scattered all over the country, especially those tied to national priorities.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the council is a veritable platform to ensure that all relevant stakeholders in the STI sector are fully integrated and involved in the development and deployment of STI in addressing national issues.
He further affirmed that STI constitutes the engine of socio-economic advancement of any nation, adding that there is a need for closer collaboration among the three tiers of government.
