Lack of homegrown technology exposes Nigeria to COVID-19 risk – Minister

The Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mohammed Abdullahi, says lack of homegrown technology has exposed Nigeria to risks of coronavirus.

The minister stated this in his office on Wednesday while receiving the Editor-in-Chief of Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust titles, Malam Naziru Mikailu.

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“Unfortunately, in the country, science technology and innovation has generally not been given so much requisite attention it deserves.

“People just see the ministry as a ministry for just research and nothing more.

“Whatever we do in the world today, it is governed by technology.

“So, our experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is still ongoing, shows that most nations during this pandemic rely on their homegrown capacity in terms of inventions and technology such that it was difficult for any country to export its own technology that is related to pandemic.

“You could see the almighty Europe and America running helter-skelter for ordinary ventilators.

“They don’t have enough!

“It behooves on our country to look inwards and begin to develop technology that will not only support us in terms of needs.

“That is the lesson we’re learning from COVID-19, we must look inwards, develop our technology in such a manner that it would be available for our own people, and as well globally competitive, which we can also export to generate revenue,” the minister said.

Abdullahi lauded Media Trust Limited’s efforts in redefining journalism in the country by creating the opportunity for all sides to present their views.

Earlier, Mikailu had assured the minister that Media Trust Limited would bring more attention to “science and technology and entrepreneurship importance.”