Pushes For Stronger Regulatory Frameworks

By Larry John Brown

Published: November 6, 2021 | 8:40 PM GMT

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, has urged manufacturers and stakeholders in the manufacturing and innovation sectors to implement strong regulatory frameworks to boost confidence and trust in Nigerian goods and services.

On Tuesday in Abuja, Dr. Onu stated this during the “2nd National Competitiveness Consultative Forum for Regulatory Establishments in Nigeria.”

Nigeria’s National Competitiveness Consultative Forum for Regulatory Establishments is a regulatory body tasked with ensuring that Nigerian goods and services can compete favorably with worldwide counterparts.

Dr. Onu said the Federal Government aims to ensure cooperation among stakeholders in the STI stakeholders. According to the Minister, the cooperation will ensure reduced production cost and guarantee stability in the supply production chain.

The Minister highlighted an added benefit of cooperation among STI stakeholders is; “A solid foundation for irreversible industrialisation that is inclusive and sustainable for national development, employment generation and creation of our common wealth, for the good of all”.

Dr. Onu further said that the Ministry will propel Nigeria into a knowledge-driven economy by building vital institutional structures, human capacity development, veritable policy and the right legal framework to protect innovators like patents.

He said; “Our programmes, especially for Research and Development would focus principally on need-based, demand-driven R&D activities”.

This according to Dr. Onu, would help easily COMMERCIALISE R&D results.

The Minister urged participants at the forum to come up with solutions to help improve on regulations, the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) and further Nigeria’s drive towards global competitiveness.

In his opening remark, the Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi, also said, the country needs a robust STI ecosystem capable of facilitating the production of made-in Nigeria products and services to meet up other global competitors.

He further made emphasis on the consistent vision of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration towards Nigeria to be self reliant in the area of development and an innovative driven economy.

Abdullahi also assured the participants of the Ministry’s commitment on the outcomes and decisions of the forum which he said would be accorded maximum attention and support.

In a goodwill message, the representative of the British High Commission, Mr. Mammadou Diallo, said the British government is fully ready to assist Nigeria achieve its dream of being a knowledge-driven economy.

About Larry John Brown

Larry John is a talented writer and journalist based in New York, USA. He is a valued contributor to TDPel Media, where he creates engaging and informative content for readers. Larry has a keen interest in current events, business, and technology, and he enjoys exploring these topics in-depth to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the issues. His writing style is characterized by its clarity, precision, and attention to detail, which make his articles a pleasure to read. Larry’s passion for storytelling has earned him a reputation as a skilled writer and a respected authority in his field.