The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, today revealed the federal government would save about N3.6trillion if the importation of goods and services into the country is reduced for a period of three years.
Dr. Onu made this statement at the 32nd University of Port Harcourt convocation lecture titled: “Science and Technology as a Driver of Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of a Nation”, held in Port Harcourt.
The Minister added that about 4.4 million jobs will be created if importation of goods and services into the country are reduced to its barest minimum.
He continued, “Nigeria stands to save N3.6trillion if they reduce importation of goods and services for three years. About 4.4 million jobs will be created.
According to the minister, “All efforts made before now to industrialise Nigeria has been fruitless and could not yield any result. However, he believed if effort is channel to revamp the leather and textile industry it will surely boost the economy.
He revealed, to achieve this, the citizens must appreciate the laws of nature and are able to harness it into practice through improvising appropriate tools. Therefore, pursuing science and technology with resilient innovation should be robustly pursued by any nation particularly in its institutions of higher learning,”
Speaking earlier, Professor Ndowa Lale, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, said, the Minister of was invited to deliver the convocation lecture was because of his vast experience and closeness to the University.
