Non-inclusion Of Nigerian Experts Contributed To Decline Of Oil Refineries – Onu

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has said that non-involvement of Nigerian technical experts in the design, construction and repair of the refineries contributed to their decline in the first place.

The minister said this is part of what the Presidential Executive Order No. 5 signed into law on February 5th 2018 came to address.

Onu stated this on Thursday April 21st, during a sensitisation workshop on full implementation of the Executive Order 05 organised for staff of the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI) in Abuja.

The Minister explained that the essence of the Executive Order 5 is to ensure that Nigeria acquires technologies that will help in positioning the nation towards self-sufficiency.

“The Executive Order is revolutionary as it is a contribution of the Ministry towards transforming the nation to the level of greatness ordained by God,” Onu stated.

The minister also used the opportunity to extend appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the order into law and also urged Nigerians to join hands in the full implementation of the Executive Order for the sustainable growth and development of the country.

He noted that the recently revised STI policy will be the key to unlock great opportunities for the country’s overall socio-economic development when fully implemented.

According to a statement by the Director Press and Public Relations, FMSTI, Afonja Ajibola, the minister during the workshop became the first inductee into the Hall of Fame of the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutes (ASURI).

In her address, the newly appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Monilola Udoh stressed the need for every average Nigerian to be aware of the Executive Order 5 in terms of skills and resources acquisition.

Udoh added that relevant MDA’s and stakeholders at the workshop should take the sensitisation exercise serious in order to transfer the knowledge gotten to their downline.

Also commenting on the Executive Order, the National Coordinator of the Strategy implementation task, office of the Presidential Executive Order No. 05 (SITOPEO-5), Engr. Ibiam Oguejiofor noted that the order will encourage Nigerian youths to be at the centre of socio-economic activities in the country.