President Muhammadu Buhari has approved renaming the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Announced by Minister Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, August 6, 2021, the rebranding aims to drive economic growth, enhance global competitiveness, and position Nigeria as a hub of innovation.
The decision aligns with the National Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap (NSTIR 2017-2030), approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2017 under Buhari’s leadership.
Minister’s Vision for the Change
Dr. Onu explained, “This is to use Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to catalyze Nigeria’s economic growth and competitiveness.
This document outlines a core policy for driving positive socio-economic outcomes through STI across all economic sectors.”
He noted that the name change, endorsed by the Presidency, reflects the ministry’s new focus.
The shift will involve a branding campaign to promote productivity and economic advancement, supporting other sectors and stakeholders in addressing socio-economic challenges through knowledge application.
Impact and Future Plans
The minister highlighted that the rebranding will be formalized in the gazette, updating legal and policy frameworks to improve coordination and institutional arrangements.
This move aims to bridge a “missing link” in the ministry’s statutory role by shifting Research and Development (R&D) toward industry and service demands, accelerating commercialization.
Onu added, “Once we commercialize R&D breakthroughs, Nigeria’s global competitiveness ranking will improve significantly, fostering a robust STI ecosystem with enhanced product quality and standardization of ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ goods and services.”
Ministry’s Strategic Role
The Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation plays a vital role in advancing Nigeria’s socio-economic development by promoting the use of science, technology, and innovation.
This rebranding underscores its commitment to transforming the nation’s economic landscape through sustainable development initiatives.
