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The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s dedication to constructing a science-driven, innovation-powered, and inclusive future for Nigeria, anchored on the beliefs of belief, transformation and sustainability.
Delivering his keynote tackle on the 2025 World Science Day for Peace and Development celebration in Abuja, Udeh emphasised that science stays central to attaining nationwide development, peace and world competitiveness.
He said that this 12 months’s theme, “Trust, Transformation and Tomorrow: The Science We Need for 2050,” aligns completely with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, which prioritises financial diversification, innovation-driven development, job creation, and youth empowerment via science, expertise and innovation (STI).
“Trust in science is built when people see clear, tangible benefits in their daily lives,” Udeh stated. “From improved crop varieties to renewable energy solutions and industrial innovation, we are demonstrating that science and technology are not abstract concepts, but practical tools for national development.”
Highlighting tangible achievements, the minister cited the Tela Maize Initiative, applied via the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, as a key instance of science translating instantly into financial and meals safety beneficial properties. The improved maize selection ensures greater yields and reduces post-harvest losses, instantly impacting Nigerian farmers and households.
In the identical vein, Udeh revealed that the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) has established potato and cassava processing services throughout the six geopolitical zones, empowering farmers, encouraging agro-processing entrepreneurship, and minimising waste.
He famous that these initiatives are a part of broader efforts to strengthen belief in science by delivering sensible options that enhance lives.
Speaking on the ministry’s drive for homegrown expertise, the minister disclosed that Nigerian scientists have developed Neem-based minero natural fertiliser, now in use throughout northern Nigeria, to enhance soil well being and improve meals sustainability.
Similarly, NBRDA’s biodigester expertise has been upgraded to generate biogas and electrical energy from biomass waste, whereas the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) continues to pioneer improvements in renewable vitality, together with photo voltaic mills, cross-flow generators, and regionally produced electrical energy meters.
Udeh additionally outlined important advances within the clear trade and manufacturing, citing the Methanol Downstream Value Chain mission and the continuing institution of multi-chemical manufacturing crops within the six geopolitical zones.
These initiatives are designed to spice up native chemical manufacturing, assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and promote industrial self-reliance. In the realm of environmental sustainability, the Minister famous that the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) has created prototype machines for recycling plastic waste into sturdy constructing supplies and is creating bamboo-based housing options to offer reasonably priced, eco-friendly properties.
Other improvements, resembling carbon monoxide sensors to forestall generator-related deaths, auto-gas automobile expertise, and accelerometer sensors for bridge monitoring, additional mirror Nigeria’s drive towards inclusive and safety-focused innovation.
He careworn that past expertise, human capital improvement stays central to Nigeria’s innovation agenda. To this finish, the Ministry has established expertise and innovation hubs and mannequin science laboratories in all six geopolitical zones to coach and empower younger Nigerians.
“These centres are spaces for young entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators to experiment, collaborate and bring ideas to life,” Udeh stated. “This is how we nurture the science we need for 2050.”
The minister additionally underscored the interconnection between tradition and science, commending the participation of conventional leaders within the occasion. “Culture plays a vital role in shaping our scientific pursuits and ensuring that they resonate with our people,” he added.
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