The Minister of State for Science and Technology, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi on Thursday disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Ministry to take full inventory of all indigenous inventions and innovations for possible Federal Government’s financial assistance in a bid to reposition the Nigerian economy.
The President chairs the Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovation (PSCII).
Abdullahi said he further directed the committee, to identify credible research products with potentials to impact all gamut of national life.
A statement by the Ministry said Abdullahi disclosed this when he received a young Nigerian Inventor, Mr. Usman Dalhatu, a Chemical Engineering student of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Abuja.
Usman Dalhatu came to show to the Minister his inventions- medial ventilators and sweeping machine.
Barrister Abdullahi, who was visibly impressed, said that Nigerian youths are very creative, innovative and have the capacity to excel like their counterparts in other parts of the world.
The Minister assured the young innovator of the support of the Ministry and directed the agencies of the Ministry, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure- (NASENI), the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, (NOTAP) and The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) to broker a partnership with the young inventor so as to make his products globally competitive for exportation.
Already, NOTAP has assisted the inventor by patenting his sweeping machine for possible commercialization.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Usman Dalatu, said his inventions are environmentally friendly, cost- effective, elastic and can be powered by solar energy. The ventilators can also be used in Ambulances, Armored Tanks etc.
He called on the Federal Government to assist in patronizing and promoting the two products.
The products have gone through clinical trials for one week in Gombe state, he added.
