SAN FRANCISCO, August 08, (THEWILL) – The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday warned that Nigeria will no longer be a dumping ground for all manner of foreign products.
He stated that the current administration is determined to change the trend by empowering local capacities through policies and programmes that promote economic diversification.
Osinbajo stated this through the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, at the 26th Engineering Assembly organised by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, in Abuja,
His words, “For too long, we have depended on imports to meet many of our needs; for too long, we have paid a very big price for this.
“Nigeria cannot continue to be a main consumer nation, Nigeria wants to be a producer nation whereby we can produce many of the things we need, and this is the thrust of this administration.”
The Acting President said the administration is working hard to place the engineering family at the centre of national development.
Onu disclosed that in the next 10 to 15 years, Nigeria will be looking for scientists, engineers and many other professionals even from outside the country because of industrial revolution.
He explained that many decisions taken, particularly in the Science, Technology and Innovation roadmap, which covers a period of 13years, (2017- 2030) will help the nation plan ahead in meeting the short, medium and long term needs of the engineering sector.
Governor Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa State, who chaired the occasion, called for a stringent regulatory framework and more attractive conditions of service to forestall capital flight and migration of indigenous engineers in search of greener pastures.
He further challenged COREN to consider putting up short term training and enhancement programmes for artisans and craftsmen.
The governor stated that this “will go a long way in reducing the rate at which Nigeria has become a dumping ground for all kinds of pseudo engineers as expatriate engineers, as well as address the critical challenges affecting the Engineering sector.”
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