Innovation will drive economy – NACETEM

Participants at a Science, Technology and Innovation Management Forum have identified innovation as the major key to the long-term growth of the economy.

They stated this at a 2-day Science, Technology and Innovation Management Forum organised by the National Center for Technology Management, NACETEM, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The forum with the theme, “The Role of STI in Development at the Grassroots Level”, was organised to enable stakeholders to collaborate and network the deployment of Science, Technology and Innovation to the key sectors of the economy.

The participants drawn from the relevant sectors who described the forum as apt noted that innovation held the key to the present and future growth of developing countries.

The participants, including Mr Saka Waheed from a Non-Governmental Organisation and Miss Abisola Ariwodola from State Ministry of information and Civic Orientation, said the forum has enlightened them on the need to educate rural dwellers on technology and innovation for development

In his opening remark, the Chairman, Governing Board of NACETEM, Sir Haastrup Olatunji maintained that any nation that relegated science, technology and innovation to the background in its developmental agenda would be left behind.

Sir Olatunji also pointed out that in a society where the most vulnerable were not attended to, there was a likelihood of most of them embracing vices for survival at the detriment of the citizens.

“Everyone, including the ones at the lowest rung of the ladder, must be carried along and integrated into the scheme of development. Hence, the need to begin to engage with the critical stakeholders in the grassroots development on the significance of STI in development, particularly at the local level”.

Earlier, the Overseeing Director General and Chief Executive Officer, NACETEM, OAU, Dr John Onimakinde, said that there was a vacuum to be filled in the deployment of Science, Technology and Innovation at the grassroots, hence the need to mobilize the people through education, empowerment and enlightenment.

 “For a long time, attention has always been on Urban development at the expense if rural development. This has led to issues such as Rural-Urban migration, poverty, neglect, diseases, among others which have continued to stunt growth and development at the grassroots level, thereby making rural dwellers extremely vulnerable”.

Dr Onimakinde further enumerated the roles of science, technology and innovation to include wealth creation, an improvement on quality of life, economic development and societal transformation.

Funmi Adekoya

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group