LINUS CHUKWUMA
With the conclusion of the 2-day National Innovation Workshop, the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Uche Ekwunife, PhD, has assured that the 9th Senate Assembly led by Ahmed Lawan, PhD, CON, would continue to support Nigerian youth to achieve their dreams in Innovation to enable them compete with their contemporaries across the globe through responsible representation.
Ekwunife explained that exponential reforms are needed to significantly drive the growth of the Nigerian economy, create jobs and generate wealth for the ever growing population, adding that the workshop, amongst its importance, will foster the culture of creativity and innovation in the country.
While addressing newsmen, Ekwunife stated that the Senate has passed legislation that provides a level playing field via the Nigerian Start-up Bills, noting that President Buhari has assented to it. She recognized that Nigeria has taken other drastic steps to ensure that its energetic and resourceful youth population are empowered in the Science, Technology and Innovation sector to achieve economic prosperity.
“It is important for us to recognize that this can be achieved when we have highly motivated, efficient, hardworking and result-oriented stakeholders. Hence, we convened this workshop in my quest to reposition the STI sector as the fulcrum of our national development”, the A-grade lawmaker remarked.
In his speech, the Executive Vice Chairman of National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof Mohammed Sani Haruna, lauded Ekwunife for her effortlessly intervention towards the reposition of the agency, saying that the agency is working on the internationalization of its products and sought for collaboration with local inventors.
The refreshing event had different inventors present papers on their inventions to the delight of the capacity-filled audience and dignitaries.
During his presentation, an Inventor, Emeka Illoghalu, expressed the Fish Production Village Business Franchise, which is an upgraded Cluster Production Model powered by the Taenprowiz Technology System, adding that it has been created for governments and investors to adopt for National economic transformation and development.
Inventor Illoghalu, who doubles as the CEO of Anambra State Fisheries and Aquaculture Business Development Agency, said that the State Government has taken by institutionalising the sector.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of prizes/awards to the best inventor, Prince Nonso Nwankwo and also the Federal Science and Technical School, Awka, as the best secondary school Innovation.
Meanwhile, certificates of participation were issued to participants.