The Federal Government says it is taking steps to see Nigeria move from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based innovation-driven one.

Minister for Science and Technology Dr Ogbonnaya Onu stated this in Abuja at the final of the yearly National Examinations for the 774 Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award (YONSPA).

The competition was organised at the 774 Local Government Areas across the country and the best 37 students were selected to represent each state of the federation, including the FCT.

What we are doing today is very significant; it is also very historic and means a lot for our country.

We want Nigeria to move away from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based innovation driven economy.

We can only do that if we have the best of Nigerians studying science and engineering; and that is why we have taken this decision to bring in competition which used to be a part of our national life, but for a long time we discarded it.

We want you to know that if you are good, your nation will reward you.

Onu also said the best participants would be recognised at the countrys Technology and Innovation Exposition coming up later in the year.

The minister said, the expo, which would be the first of its kind in Nigeria, would bring together investors, inventors and innovators to assist in commercialising the countrys research findings and market its products both locally and internationally.

He added that the best students would be part of the countrys delegation to an international Olympiad also coming up later in the year.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Belema Wakama, had said that the criteria for grading the students would be fair.

Wakama noted that Nigeria had gifted scientists, who were doing well in other parts of world.

She, therefore, advised the participants to ensure they were listed among them.

According to her, the ministry intends to monitor the progress of the students to ensure that their interests in STI were on track.

Mr Ekanem Udoh, the Director, Science and Technology Promotion, said the competition was organised to enable the youth to key into science programmes.

Udoh reiterated that the winners would be given awards and would be supported in their educational pursuits.

The essence of this competition is to encourage our youths to participate in Science, Technology and Innovation, to see to what extent we can allow our youths to buy into the science programmes of this country and indeed the world.

The competition started last year through competitions at the local government levels then to the state levels and today we are witnessing the national finals.

These students have come as the best students from all the states of the federation to compete.

The minister has made a statement and these students will be supported all the way through their education.

He has also invited them to the Technology and Innovation Expo on April 3rd where he will formerly present awards to the first, second and third winners at this competition.

Alberta Obiekezie, one of the participants said the competition was important as it was an avenue for young Nigerian scientists to come together for the development of the country.

The essence of this kind of competition is to bring in future scientists, to bring students from all over the country, at least to test their scientific ability for a better future, Obiekezie said.

NAN

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