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NGO advocates govt investment in local innovators

Abuja, April 28, 2015 (NAN) Refocusing Nigerian Talents Organisation (RENITO), an NGO, on Tuesday urged governments at all levels to invest and focus on improving local technologies, to boost the economy.
Nigeria- image source adesojiadegbulu

Nigeria- image source adesojiadegbulu

Innovators
Abuja, April 28, 2015 (NAN) Refocusing Nigerian Talents Organisation (RENITO), an NGO, on Tuesday urged governments at all levels to invest and focus on improving local technologies, to boost the economy.

Mr Abanka Musa, the Executive Director, made the call on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the organisation in Abuja.

The celebration was marked with a national onference with the theme “Strategic Advocacy and Promotion of Indigenous Inventions for Wealth Creation’’.

Musa said that for any nation to develop its economy, it must be able to produce what its citizens would consume internally rather than depend on the importation of goods.

“For any nation to attain developmental and economic growth, it must be able to produce most of what its citizens use internally.

“This process would not only contribute to the country’s GDP but will also enhance the livelihood of citizens who would be exposed to different job opportunities through these innovations.’’

He added that the conference was organised to complement government’s effort toward economic development and to protect the creativity right of local inventors.

The executive director called on the government to give ample attention to discovering talented artisans and researchers, adding that invention villages should be established.

He advised that government should collaborate with the formal and informal sectors for the exchange of information to transform the nation economically and technologically.

Also in his address Mr Usman Musa, the Board Chairman of RENITO, said that for these local innovations to thrive in the country, orientation of citizens must be changed to appreciate locally made goods.

He advised Nigerians to believe in themselves and be creative to ensure a developed nation.

One of the participants, Mr Emmanuel Ishaku from Kebbi, who invented a grinding machine and airplane engine, but had his hand chopped off in the process, pleaded for support.

Ishaku said RENITO located him after they heard his story and promised to solicit support to enable him to improve his inventions.

He also called for financial support from the government to encourage and empower more technicians so that they could develop their skills for economic development.

“Without this creativity no government can stand on its legs; in Nigeria, we produce plastics but we need to advance to products like cars, aircraft and engines.

“It really aches my heart that Nigeria does not have such goods; if government focuses on these inventions and fund it adequately, the country’s economy will be greatly increased.’’

Some of the innovators included Jonathan Unutaro, who invented a machine to check fuel scarcity, Idris Ibrahim, who invented an aircraft called Bi-Plane while Usman Shehu a produced a single seat helicopter among others.

Renito is an NGO established to encourage creativity, innovation, invention and entrepreneurship through potentials discovery and integrity building as a panacea for sustainable development.

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