ABUJA, JUNE 21, 2016 – The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has planned to facilitate the acquisition of knowledge to adapt and diffuse technologies for the growth of Small and Medium term Enterprises (SMEs).Mr Taye Akinyemi, the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, the ministry is intensifying effort to ensure agricultural development, food security, commercialising indigenous prototype, power generation among others to strengthen SMEs toward poverty reduction.
According to him, the ministry is ready to support organisations and institutions within a virile National Innovation System (NIS) to promote the creation of innovative enterprises using Nigeria’s indigenous knowledge.
“To support the promotion of locally developed technologies for the production of globally competitive goods.
“Also to strengthen international cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation across all economic sectors.
On the STI Policy, Akinyemi said there was need to prioritise strategies for multi-disciplinary Research and Development activities to generate and diffuse Science and Technology knowledge for national development.
“To facilitate the creation and maintenance of a reliable database on Nigeria’s Science, Technology and innovation resources and activities.
“Also, to create sustain reliable mechanisms for adequate funding of STI activities,” he added.
