The Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mohammed Abdullahi, says it is disappointing that Nigeria is not among the 100 or first ten in sub African in the world innovation index 2020 released by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
He spoke at the 18thmeeting of the National Council on Science, Technology and Innovation concluded in Abuja at the weekend.
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The country’s abysmal position, he said, should be a wake-up call for the science and technology sector.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to be fully innovative and align with the rest of the world so as to grab the benefits on Artificial Intelligence and other related technologies
He said the COVID-19 pandemic had once again brought to fore the critical relevance of science, technology and innovation, adding that the ministry had made frantic efforts in providing strategic solutions to the virus.
The minister, who said the healthcare system was strained to the limit worldwide, noted that it was only through science and technology that the health sector could be rejuvenated.
He said the ministry was currently carrying out authentication exercise of claims by researchers, scientists and other relevant practitioners on their herbal cure for COVID-19.
