Economic diversification: FG urged to strengthen science, technology

The Federal Government has been urged to accord priority attention to the development of science and technology to lead its economic diversification drive in the bid to revamp the economy.

Chief Damian Inyamah, the immediate past President, Igbo Delegates Assembly for the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) gave the advice on Friday in Lokoja.

Inyamah, who spoke on the state of the economy in an interview with newsmen, said science and technology were not given the deserved attention by successive governments in the past.

The elder statesman said that the country had ample opportunities to diversify the economy through science and technology but had neglected the call and was now paying for it.

He attributed the present economic quagmire to mismanagement, bad leadership and corruption and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his stance on corruption.

He advised that in adding to agriculture being widely speculated as the way out of the present economic recession, the Federal Government should think seriously of developing the science and technology sector.

The former Igbo Delegate Assembly president said that with adequate focus and attention on science and technology, Nigeria should, in the next one year, be among top developed nations of the world “because we have the resources, we have the weather, landmarks and the brains.

“The 1945 destruction of human and material wealth of Hiroshima and Nagasaki introduced untold hardships in Japan and toughened the country, making the people to put on their thinking caps.

“The 30-month civil war in Nigeria ought to have propelled Nigeria to greater heights. Difficult times give room for people to critically think first for survival and then, advancement.

“Necessity is the mother of inventions. During the 1967-1970 Nigeria civil war, Biafran soldiers were refining fuel in the kitchen; urine was
used to drive cars. When an individual is in need, his or her brain works better.”

He, therefore, stressed the need for Nigerians to wear their thinking caps now.

He said “Nigeria is now heading toward that line where the brain will work and the stomach will no longer be in a position to dictate and
control.

“Nigerians are facing hard times now, but very soon, we shall see light at the end of the tunnel.”