Henry Ikoh and another official at the event.
‘We must ensure that our people in South East are prepared for the full industrialization of Nigeria’
By Ahmed Ahmed
The Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI) has expressed concern over substandard, counter-fit and defective materials, goods, processes across the country.
The minister in charge of the ministry, Chief Henry Ikoh, raised the alarm during the establishment and implementation of the technology and innovation centres for global competitiveness and productivity by the Strategy Implementation Task Force for presidential executive order No. 5 on Monday in Bauchi.
The North East Dialogue is titled, “Achieving Nigeria’s Competitiveness and Improved foreign exchange Earnings through Science Technology and Innovation.”
He said that the Federal Government was aware of the unfortunate situations created by substandard, counter-fit and defective materials, goods, processes and even systems on people and trading partners.
“This we shall tackle under the Presidential Executive Order No5 through interventions to ensure that strong regulatory frameworks are deployed with all sense of responsibility, so that we can build trust and confidence in our goods and services,” he said.
He pointed out that to further strengthen the EO 5, the Federal Government approved the National Policy on Welding and Welding Related fields and its implementation as part of efforts to drive the nation’s industrialization and sustainable development.
“As it is today most welders come from the neighbouring countries. We need all hands- on deck especially with the discovery of oil in the South East Zone to hasten bolder action in this direction.
“We must ensure that our people in South East are prepared for the full industrialization of Nigeria,’’ he said.
Also read: Minister, others to attend SON’s Golden Jubilee
Chief Ikoh however urged stakeholders participating in this dialogue to identify important enhancing factors for effective regulation and credible certification and accreditation for the intervention of the Presidential Monitoring and Evaluation Council.
“Bearing in mind the need for consideration in the future, of third party conformity assessment of our toolbox, systems and processes by internationally recognized conformity assessment establishments.
“This will, at this stage of our development, give added credence to our operations in Nigeria. It will also provide a basis for confidence in our certification and accreditation outcomes.”
The minster assured continued support of both the Presidential Monitoring and Evaluation Council of Executive Order No 5.
“The Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and indeed Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari, for the inauguration of the Presidential Monitoring and Evaluation Council and directing amongst others,the full implementation of Eo5,” he said.
He called on the participants to take the dialogue as a call to service of humanity.
In a remark, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State commended President Muhammadu Buhari for coming up with Presidential Executive Order No 5.
“For moving the nation forward with respect to the establishing Technology and Innovation Centres as a forum to promote global competitiveness and productivity,” he said.
valoa2000@yahoo.com
