Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology, on Monday restated Federal Government’s commitment to create more jobs through industrialisation.
Onu said this in an interview with newsmen after inaugurating a leather cluster workshop at the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology, Light leather Manufacturing Centre, Sokoto.
He said: “We have the capacity to create millions of high quality jobs that will last for life time, and as such, bring in Nigerians to do more research and commercialisation.
“Moreover, the reason the Ministry of Science and Technology concentrate more on the textile and leather, is that we want to industrialise Nigeria.
“We want industries to spring up in different part of the country. We want our industrialisation process to be universal.”
Onu noted that there was a time Nigeria was assembling all types of vehicles, but collapse presently as it was not backed-up with the necessary skills and research.
He added that the ministry would continue to discourage the exportation of materials that are valuable to the country and encourage finished products to add more value on production.
Earlier, the minister in a condolence visit to Governor Aminu Tambuwal on the demise of former President, Shehu Shagari, said that the inaugurated cluster workshop had the capacity of training 100 persons at a time.
He said that the established cluster was aimed at developing additional skills for the actualisation of the nation’s industrialisation drive.
Onu described the demise of Shagari as `a great loss’ not only to his family but the entire country
He said: “Shagari is a great Nigerian, who made significant contributions for unity, peace, prosperity and development of the country.”
Responding, Governor Tambuwal thanked the minister for the visit and assured the minister that the state government would continue to complement Federal Government’s commitment in industrialisation.
He said that Sokoto state government had since signed an agreement with the Pan African Enterprises, a subsidiary of Green Park Worldwide in London, UK, for the establishment of Sokoto Tannery and Sokoto Shoe Factory.
According to him, the idea was part of the government desire to effectively utilize the abundant hides and skin in the state and complement Federal Government’s effort in the sector.
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