Thirty-six (36) innovators and inventors have received grant awards from the Nigerian government to upgrade their inventions and innovations to prototype and commercialisation levels.
They were selected across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and were awarded under the 2023 Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovations PSCII grants with the sum of forty-seven million naira (47,000,000), ranging from one (1) to five (5) million naira each.
At the award ceremony, the Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, said that the PSCII has worked out an effective mechanism to monitor and evaluate the implementation to ensure that the grants are utilised for the purpose for which they were awarded.
The Minister noted that all the support being offered by the PSCII to inventors and innovators is guided by the operational guidelines and Terms of Reference.
‘It is expedient to note that since the inception of the PSCII Programme in 2005, more than 600 innovators and inventors have
so far benefitted from the grants across all six geopolitical zones of the country after satisfying the selection criteria.’
He added that the Ministry is making efforts to improve the budgetary allocation for the Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovations (PSCII).
‘Federal Government’s funding level of the Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovations (PSCII).
Also, collaborations with relevant stakeholders such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TetFund), the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), the National Planning Commission, e.t.c. are facilitating the achievement of the ultimate goal of the PSCII Programme by providing a solid foundation for a technological break-through in the country, as well as improving the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians.’
The Minister stressed that value addition to nat
ural resources through the application of science, technology, and innovation is pertinent for a competitive economy and the attainment of sustainable development.
‘The ability of Nigeria to compete and prosper depends to a significant extent more on the deployment of technological capacities and innovations than on the exploitation of natural resources. However, global competitiveness is expected to contribute to job creation and wealth creation, improving the well-being and quality of life of our people through the production of goods and services and building the human capacities required for such activity.’
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology, Mrs. Esuabana Nko-Asanye, said that a total of 509 (five hundred and nine) applications were received from inventors and innovators across the six geopolitical zones of the country, of which thirty-six (36) of them were selected by the committee.
The Permanent Secretary advised the beneficiaries of the grants to utilise
the funds in upgrading their inventions and innovations to prototypes and commercialisation levels.
The Director General of the National Board for Technology Incubation, NBTI, Mrs. Patricia Chukwu, said the programme since it’s inception has led to the generation, creation, infusion, utilisation, and proliferation of many need-driven inventions and innovations in Nigeria.
‘The Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovations (PSCII) was inaugurated to encourage technology-based domestic initiatives as we search for homegrown solutions and innovations to foster the economic development of our country. Since the inception of this programme, a lot of Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones have benefited after satisfying the selection process,’ she said.
The Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund PTDF, Mr. Ahmad Galadima Aminu, represented by the Head of PTDF, Dr. Neeka Jacob, said the need for science, technology, and innovation is vital in almost all sectors of the
economy.
He added that the oil and gas sector industry is also benefiting from science and technology, where research innovators are needed to grow the industry.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Raymond Mr. Rolland Tella appreciated the Ministry for facilitating the awards, saying that it boosted their morals and encouraged them to work harder towards achieving their desired goals.
Source: Voice of Nigeria