FG to Encourage Youths Participation in Science,Tech. in Nigeria

By Lazarus Zakaa, Abuja

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has said that Government would continue to encourage youth participation in science, Technology and innovative activities in Nigeria.

The Minister stated this on Monday at the occasion of the 2020 Edition of the Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award (YONSPA), held at the Ministry ICT resource Centre, said government having discovered a decrease in the interest of Nigerians to study Science related courses due to notion that they are difficult to learn, initiated the programme so as to encourage participation in area.

He said 774 YONSPA was a deliberate programme of the Ministry to take science to the grass root and also encouraged Nigerian youths to participate in science and technology, which according to him was one of the “Catch them Young” an initiative aimed at making young Nigerians developed interest in mathematics and science early in their lives.

“The future is bright for our scientist and engineers as they will deploy science and technology to explore the moon, other heavenly bodies, the ocean, create wealth and reduced poverty and also contributing to major national and international problems” he noted.

The Minister who used the fora to challenge Nigerian scientist to provide cure for the dreaded coronavirus (COVID-19) noting that he believed that Nigerians can so it.

He said “I charge you our future scientists, to begin to see yourselves as solution providers, not only to solve the problem of Nigerians, but those if the entire world”

The Minister urged them to attached great importance to the event, informing that the best three students at the 2nd and 3rd Edition of the programme are currently enjoying Federal government scholarship up to P.hd level.

He hoped that some of the grand finalist would soon become Federal Scholars.