The Nigeria Society of Engineers has advised the incoming Minister of Science and Technology to pursue policies that would strengthen Nigeria’s industrial development drive.
Margaret Oguntala, the NSE Vice President in charge of Corporate Resources and Media, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday.
Oguntala further advised the incoming minister to promote policies that would encourage more Nigerians to invest in the manufacturing and technology development sectors.
She said: “Honestly we have a lot of issues in terms of the development of technological advancement of Nigeria.
“But I know that most of the issues are related to power.
“I grew up to meet a lot of industries in Nigeria that are no longer here.
“For instance there is an avenue in Ikeja, Oba Akran Avenue.
“It used to be full of industries: from textiles, to breweries, to paints and all of that.
“Most of them are no longer there.
“So, what the minister needs to do is (to) look at how we can have more industries in Nigeria, how we can encourage manufacturing in Nigeria.
“I know that in a country like China they have industrial bank where indigenous manufacturers can go get some loans at no interest. Such loans such be made available in Nigeria.
“There are a number of people and a number of engineers, who have interest in the development of some technology.
“And so we must encourage them by ensuring that they have access to funds because funding has been a major problem to indigenous engineers.”
Oguntala also enjoined the incoming minister to ensure that practical steps were taken to develop renewable energy resources to enable the manufacturing and technological sector to achieve sustained growth.
She said: “When our manufacturing and technological sector is up and doing, the multiplier effect would be felt across virtually every other sector of the economy.
“But most of all, the teeming energetic and creative segment of our population, the youth, would become gainfully engaged with attendant reduction in the level of crime and insecurity in the country.
“It is important that the Minister looks at what can be done to encourage the development of the industries in Nigeria. And that way we can continue to develop our technology.
“So, we need to look more inwards and see what our engineers can do and encourage them to build on technology.”
The NSE vice president expressed the commitment of the body to providing the incoming minister with the nation’s infrastructure ratings to help achieve speedy development of the sector.
NAN.