By Milcah Tanimu

ABUJA – In a bid to spearhead Africa’s innovation revolution, the Federal Government of Nigeria unveiled its ambitious plan on Monday to position the country as a leader in technological advancement across the continent.

At a high-level summit focusing on Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) held in Abuja, Chief Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, outlined the government’s strategy to bolster Nigeria’s global competitiveness through technological innovation and sustainable growth.

Nnaji highlighted a three-pronged approach to overhaul Nigeria’s RDI landscape, emphasizing the importance of strengthening institutional frameworks, fostering public-private partnerships, and investing in human capital.

The Minister stressed the government’s commitment to creating an inclusive and forward-thinking ecosystem that harnesses the collective efforts of academia, industry, government, and communities.

“Our vision is for Nigeria to emerge as a hub for innovation in Africa, making significant contributions to the global knowledge economy. We are determined to unlock the full potential of our research and development efforts,” Nnaji stated, underscoring the pivotal role of practical research in driving national development.

He reiterated the summit’s theme, ‘Advancing Nigeria’s Global Competitiveness Through a Resilient National RDI Coordination,’ as a call to action for stakeholders to collaborate and drive progress.

Dr. Udodirim Ugonna, representing the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the critical role of innovation in driving economic development and policy formulation.

“We are committed to adding value to locally available raw materials and harnessing innovations for economic advancement,” Dr. Ugonna affirmed.

Prof. Abubakar Sani, President-elect of the Nigerian Academy of Science, emphasized the need for integrating research outcomes into governmental programs for immediate implementation, citing the underutilization of research outputs as a challenge.

Dr. Shabihul Hassan, from the International Agriculture Consulting Group, emphasized the importance of international collaboration in sectors such as agriculture and power, drawing parallels with India’s success in grain production.

Omo Oaiya, Chief Strategy Officer at WACREN, and Dr. Mustapha Ayo Popoola, Executive Director of RIKE-SD, highlighted challenges facing Nigeria’s RDI sector, including fragmentation and lack of coordination, calling for unified efforts to unlock the nation’s vast knowledge assets.

The summit, organized by WACREN through its LIBSENSE initiative and supported by the UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), emphasized the need for stakeholder commitment to drive Nigeria’s innovation agenda forward.