Uche Nnaji: Using technology to drive inclusive and sustainable growth

The Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration is a transformative policy thrust aimed at repositioning Nigeria as a prime global investment destination with aim of making life better for Nigerians.

For Nigeria to meet this policy thrust, experts have said that it needs innovation-driven solutions, start-ups to drive technology-led growth and well driven digital transformation.

However, there is no doubt that Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science & Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji is living up to the billing by employing strategic technological interventions to drive inclusive and sustainable growth and development in line with the Renewed Hope Aganda of President Tinubu.

Upon assumption of duty in August 2023, Uche Nnaji quickly went to work. He started by assessing the 17 agencies under his Ministry with the aim of making them viable for the great task ahead. He then prioritizes their revitalization for enhanced productivity in technology advancement.

Nnaji embarked on a government-wide programme comprising of project strands designed to strengthen innovation by positioning science and technology as his unique offer to Nigerians.

Above all, Nnaji conducted detailed economic research and analysis of the technology sector in Nigeria and led extensive stakeholder consultations, with more than 100 stakeholders among government, donors, and the private sector, to chat a new course in the Ministry.

The interventions were to support Nigeria achieve its growth potential. The move catalyzed innovation and technology to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction in by supporting entrepreneurs, SMEs and start-ups across the length and breadth of the nation’s technology ecosystems. The initiative also encourage prosperity by improving the commercial environment so that international businesses can compete favourably to bring innovations, technology, partnerships and capital into the Nigerian Tech hub.

There is no doubt that Nigeria as Africa’s largest population and a nation rich in agricultural potential is leading the charge in developing solutions that blend Innovation, Climate Finance and Sustainable Food Systems.

The total commitment to deploy Innovation, Science and Technology as the backbone of Nigeria’s Climate Change Resilience Strategy for Environmental Sustainability in the country has gotten a boost under Nnaji.

It is clear that National Technology and Innovation Policy (NTIP) (2022) serve as the blueprint for leveraging technology to secure food production, energy access and environmental sustainability of the nation.

It is vital to note that Ministry is using Executive Order No.5 to lead an Inter-Ministerial Governance Framework, which ensures institutional coordination and policy implementation for the overall transformation of the nation.

The National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) has created some solution driven activities in Climate-Smart Agriculture to enhance food security through innovation by championing Tela Maize and Climate Adaptive Cotton, which resist drought, pest and extreme weather condition to ensure higher productivity with lower environmental impacts in the country.

Digital Agriculture and Smart Farming, Clean Energy Solutions for Agriculture where Nigeria is adopting solar-powered irrigation and bioenergy solutions to revolutionize rural farming are taking shape under Nnaji’s watch.

It is of note that the Ministry is developing an Integrated Biodigester Network for Waste-to Wealth solution in key organic waste zones, capable of producing two million cubic meters of biogas and fifty tons of organic fertilizer annually.

More interestingly, the initiative among other things will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 300,000 tons of CO2e annually while providing clean energy access to ten thousand households.

Nnaji has also prioritize partnership with relevant stakeholders, international organizations and global bodies for Strategic Alliances for Innovation and Knowledge Sharing, Access to specialised Talent and Resources, Shared Responsibilities and enhanced visibility and credibility.

Speaking on his synergy with Commonwealth, he said, “Our Call to Action rely heavily in strengthening Commonwealth Partnerships because challenges before us are global in nature and demand a collective response”.

However, peeping more into some achievements of Uche Nnaji in the nation’s science and technology recompose for the appreciation of this piece, one will realize that Nnaji is set to revolutionize the nation’s Science and Technology for economic development and transformation.

The Ministry not long ago secured the approval for the procurement of three (3) optic and one (1) SAR Satellite for Nigeria. This will certainly advance Nigeria’s efforts and enhance its space technology capabilities.

Three of the four approved satellites will carry optical payloads. The fourth satellite, a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, will be launched to replace the current Cintetic Reader satellite. This initiative highlights Nigeria’s dedication to strengthening its technological infrastructure and enhancing its space technology development and exploration capabilities.

The launch of new satellites is essential to sustaining Nigeria’s position in global space development.

The Ministry has development unmanned ground vehicles and magnetometers and solar cells. There was a joint development with GETS system Israel of coastal RADAR surveillance system augmentation using crewless aerial vehicles.

The establishment of a domestic drone manufacturing plant in Nigeria is getting the commendation of all. This will certainly help in security and intelligent gathering.

The launch of the Tela maize which has been pronounced safe for consumption, profitable to farmers and will save over N2 billion in annual production costs. It is a high yielding transgenic varieties that confers resistance to major pests including as stem borers and fall army worm, and have moderate drought tolerance.

Release of bt-cowpea, which is resistant to Maruca vitrata. The commercialization of the transgenic Cowpea will help to achieve food security, poverty alleviation and increase farmers’ income in the near future. its resistant to Maruca, the destructive insect that had been a nightmare to farmers in the African continent will see farmers spend less in pest control.

Other areas of achievement include Release of bt-cotton, Development of protocol and seedlings of tropical fruits e.g., pineapple, banana and plantain. Construction & equipping of cassava plant at Uke, Nassarawa State and Igbaraoke in Ondo State. Development of protocol and seedlings of tropical economic trees e.g., Gum Arabic. Cassava and potato value chain enhancement.

It worth of note that in collaboration with the European Space Agency, NASRDA developed in house expertise in A1, Blockchain, and remote sensing technologies to Revolutionize Sorghum & maize cultivation in Nigeria under the supervision of the Ministry.

Development of energy management devices, Deployment of bio digester for the generation of biogas, electricity etc, Development of prototypes for electricity, oil and gas industries, Development of prototypes for energy management device, Execution of renewable energy projects across the country.

Under Nnaji’s stewardship, the following Memorandum of Understanding were signed to enhance innovation, Science and Technology for the economic transformation.

They include Signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the space exploration & research agency to forge new path for Nigeria’s Human Space Flight goal. MOU on signing of a remote sensing satelize ground receiving Antenna Station with Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR). MOU signing for the establishment of a cassava-based ethanol plant in Ekiti State, MOU with the Association of Computer Village Technology Merchants of Nigeria (ACOVITEMN) aimed at fostering talent with the innovation, science and technology sector in order to enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness. Signing MOU with Domineum/Edinburse in United Kingdom (UK) for the development of Abuja Tech city.

Nnaji to enhance learning and empowerment Kicked off The Technology Nigeria which is a platform for skill acquisition, learning, community, apprenticeship and marketplace, which will support the socio-economic growth of our Nation. He also launched National Cleantech Innovation Entrepreneurship Ecosystem (CIEE) focused at enhancing knowledge creation, build capacity, develop an innovation strategy aligned with Nigeria’s climate goals, and establish a cleantech delivery framework.

He encouraged Public – Private Partnership between the National Office for technology acquisition & promotion (Notap) and P2 Cussons Nigeria for the upgrade of research equipment like the inductively coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy at the Federal University of Technology (FUTA) Akure.

Nnaji led the foundation for Groundbreaking for a new solar PV module assembling plant in Akpugo, Enugu State and establishment of Nigeria’s first Renewal Energy College in Kogi State.

The award of grants to 36 Innovations under the presidential standing committee on invention & innovation grant initiative have been applauded by most Nigerians.

In synergy with FLUX carbon pte Ltd, a groundbreaking initiative that introduces enhanced ROCK weathering technology to Nigerian farms was launched.

Launch of four new oral solid dosage phytomedicines, the first of their kind in Nigeria and National CNG conversion training were achieved.

It is on record that 8th innovation & technology expo was well organized with the Ministry breaking new grounds. Commissioning of the South West Zonal office complex for the Federal Institute of Industrial Research was done without hassles. It was to the eternal credit of Nnaji that a proposed land was secured for the establishment of the Abuja tech city.

Launching of the National Policy on Welding and also devising for the establishment of canters of welding excellence in collaboration with the Nigerian institute of welding across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria has really given young Nigerians what to cheer with as most of them will leverage on this to equip themselves skill wise.

He also commissioned the Data base management centre of the Nigerian Council of Food Science & Technology (NICFOST) to enhance efficiency and productivity.

Although, challenges ahead abounds, yet paved with possibilities which is an invitation to accelerated innovation and transformation. As inventions emerge and technology evolve, there is this conviction that Nigeria is poised to harness the power of technology to forge a sustainable and inclusive future. The synergy between innovators, stakeholders, policymakers, and experts will be crucial in directing this burgeoning momentum toward meaningful change which the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology is birthing with Chief Uche Nnaji as the driver.

Ochiaka Ugwu, an Abuja based Media Practitioner and immediate past Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council can be reached at ochiakaugwu@gmail.com