Two of the senators representing Anambra State, Stella Oduah and Ifeanyi Ubah, were absent as the Senate Committee on Science and Technology Committee headed by Uche Ekwunife stormed the state for a two-day workshop.

Ubah represents Anambra South zone, while Oduah represents Anambra North. Both are contesting in 2023.

The two-day workshop by the Senators, had the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo SAN, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim and Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo in attendance.

Some other states, including Delta and Bayelsa, sent their deputy governors to the event in Anambra.

In his address during the opening of a two-day National Innovation Workshop with the theme – ‘Promotion of Inventors of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)’

Osinbajo while speaking, called for the reappraisal and rebranding of the national innovation ecosystem to drive technological and socio-economic development in the country.

The event was held at the 12,000 capacity International Convention Centre, ICC , in Awka, built by the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano

The workshop was organised by the Senate Committee on Science and Technology and the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology.

Osinbajo was represented by the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikoh.

He said: “This workshop offers Nigeria an opportunity to reappraise and rebrand its national innovation ecosystem with emphasis on technology and entrepreneurship. The way to go to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich is through thinking out of the box, innovation and commercialisation of thoughts.

“Nigeria will be great again only when we begin to shift our emphasis from consumer nation to production and we need innovation to produce. The Federal Government will continue to champion the adoption of STI as key tools to accelerate socio-economic development in the country,” he added.

Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, said there was the need for a national policy to promote STI, adding that it is the new way of life.

“Without STI, nothing happens. In Anambra we recognised this fact and we have been taking proactive measures to make Anambra the home of talents for STI in the country. We need to replicate same across the country by having a legislative framework to mainstream STI in our schools to catch them young.

“The policy will also mandate Nigerians and the Nigerian government to promote indigenous inventors and innovators by patronising them. If they innovate and invent, and nobody patronises them, their ideas will die,” Soludo said.

Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, delivered the lecture.

He said there was an urgent need to draw attention and to prepare the country for the 4th industrial revolution.

“Human race is in transition in a dimension of technological revolution which will affect the way we live, work and relate, and so we must prepare and adjust the way we think. In a short while from now, talents and innovation are going to be the only dependable capital assets. As a nation, we need a legislative agenda to harness our available human resources.

“We need to groom and nurture Nigerian youths into the path of science, technology and innovation to key into the opportunities that the 4th industrial revolution will present and place our economy on a sustainable path for growth,” Anyim said.

Chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, Uche Ekwunife, said the workshop was to connect innovators, inventors, academia, policy makers, entrepreneurs, tech companies and students from across the country.

She said STI should be prioritised to address the exponential changes needed to drive the growth of the economy, create jobs and generate wealth, ” she said.

Other senators, prominent politicians including the political godfather of the state, Chief Chris Uba, attended the event. (The Nation)

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