From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
The Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has stated the efforts of his administration to reduce poverty and inequalities through enhancing and promoting science and technological innovations for economic development in the state.
The Governor stated this on Monday at the flag-off of Science and Technology summit held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan through his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo.
According to him, Nigeria’s vision of becoming one of the largest economy in the world by the year 2020 would not only be attainable when science and technology are fully integrated into our Nation’s socioeconomic development process but “guarantee our competitiveness both continentally and globally”.
Ajimobi maintained that the present administration in the state understands the need for continuous improvement and innovation in knowledge disbursement, saying “as our children conquer peak after challenging peak of success, we deem it our duty to provide them all support in the form of state of Art infrastructure, challenging opportunities to test their mettle and the required guidance and motivation”, he stated.
Corroborating him, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela stated that securing the approval of His Excellency to organize the summit is an affirmation of the readiness and commitment of the present administration in the state to alleviate poverty through awareness campaign for repositioning the economy of the state in particular and the Nation at large via Science and Technology.
•Oyo Commissioner for Education, Prof. Olowofela
According to him, the last survey of employment in Nigeria shows that nearly one in four workers is unemployed, with youths unemployment at nearly 40 percent, noting that over the past few years, Science and Technology have played an increasing role in the economic growth and diversification of Nigerian economy.
He noted that most of the developed countries in the world have embraced a technological driven economy adding that developing countries cannot hope to prosper in an increasingly competitive global economy and open trading system if they don’t build the appropriate Science and Technology capacity to produce more value-added goods and services.
“In fact, I can confidently say that Science and Technology is the dividing line between developed and developing ones”, he stated.
Prof. Ayodeji Oluleye, the lead speaker at the summit, said the nation’s economy must be repositioned from a mono product to one which allowed science and technology takes centre space.
“The reason why we continue to ask for aid is because the nation has refused to focus on science.
“Our government must prioritize her investment on productive sectors, while Nigerians must begin to ask question,” he said.
