Hon. Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. (Sen.) Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora (13th right) Hon. Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh (12th right) Secretary-General, National Commission for United Nation Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Dr. Olagunju Idowu (7th left) and other dignitaries in a group photograph during the courtesy visit by the National Commission for United Nation Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to the Hon. Minister in Abuja, recently.
The Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Dr. (Sen.) Adeleke Mamora Olorunnimbe has said that education is the major pillar of human development which must be keyed into as the building block of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The Minister said this when the delegation from the National Commission for United Nation Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) led by its Secretary- General, Dr. Olagunju Idowu paid him a visit in Abuja recently.
Mamora said that United Nation Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is an agency with a mandate of advancing education for the purpose of attaining sustainable development in Africa.
He therefore, called on Africa to rise and surmount her challenges in order to take her rightful place in the comity of Continents.
The Minister further stressed the need for all hands to be on deck, including persons with disability, noting that there is ability in disability so as to be imparted with human capacity development.
The role of Research and Development (R&D) cannot be overemphasized as nation can only develop technologically in line with the amount of R&D undertaken, and commercialized, Mamora stated.
According to Mamora, STI is very important, as it synergises with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to achieve its desired goals.
Speaking, the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh, said that Nigeria is a great country, blessed with various natural resources capable of attaining self-sufficiency particularly in the area of agriculture.
To this end, he admonished the team to support Nigeria in the area of Agro Allied Industries in order to boost export and add more value to the country’s economy.
Earlier, the Secretary-General, National Commission for UNESCO, Dr. Olagunju Idowu said that the purpose of their visit is to introduce the project title: Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR III) to Nigeria.
He revealed that the project is a joint initiative of UNSECO and the Republic of Korea which was officially launched to benefit the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector with skills development in four countries in West Africa which include: Cote d’ivoire, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
Signed
Atuora Obed O.
DD (P&PR)
20th April.2023.