Nabasu calls for strong partnership with UKAID-Africa on capacity implementation

By Ene Ikpa

The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Science and Technology Mr Bako Bitrus Nabasu has called for capacity implement and knowledge transfer, as Nigeria is not short of capacity.

Nabasu called for strong partnership between the Ministry and UKAID-Africa, so as to boost knowledge transfer in Science, Technology and Innovation.

Mr. Nabasu made the call when he received a delegation of UKAID and UK-Africa science partnership in the Ministry in Abuja on Wednesday.

Nabasu said the President’s determination to lift more than 100 million people out of poverty in the next ten years can only be realized through through the platform of Science andTechnology, adding that inputs of UK-Aid in this objective would be crucial in its realization.

Nabasu said the Federal Government had initiated major policies in STI to help drive economic diversification and appealed to UKAid to assist in the area of their implementation.

He disclosed that Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful progress unless the tools of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) are put to good use.

He commended the UKAID in Africa, for using technology to improve the fortunes of the ordinary citizens of Nigeria.

Earlier, the Head of UKAID, UK-AFRICA West African Team leader, Leanne Jones said the objective of their meeting was to support partner countries like Nigeria to harness Science and technology to improve economic opportunities.

She emphasized that the UK will deploy technology,  to addressing poverty reduction while digital technologies would also be employed to expand broadband and internet options in Nigeria.

Dr. Nee-Joo Teu, the Head of the UK Knowledge Transfer Technology, said, partnership with the Federal Government was essential to build suitable technological models for Nigeria that is friendly to the Eco-system and eventually grow Nigeria’s economy.