As part of its support to science and technology development in the country, the Federal Government has approved N70 million as grant to 56 inventors to enable them improve and mass produce their inventions.
According to the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, the grant was to empower the beneficiaries to improve, mass produce, commercialise their products as well as register and patent them.
“The cheques will be given to 56 inventors as grant to local inventors to enable them improve and mass produce their inventions for use in Nigeria as well as for export to the international market.”
The minister added that Nigeria’s future depends on effective utilisation of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) as tools for the economic development of our dear country.
“I therefore challenge you to continue to work hard so as to improve on your creativity, inventiveness and innovation in using this grant,” he said.
Onu, however, informed that the level of funding would improve when the National Research and Innovation Council (NIRIC) is fully established and the National Research Innovation Fund (NIRIF) becomes operational. He thanked the 2016 Presidential Standing Committee on Innovations and Innovations (PSCII), grants for the critical selections of the 56 beneficiaries out of 400 interested inventors.
Ezekiel Izuogu, one of the inventors, who got the highest grant (N10 million), thanked the government for the grant given to indigenous inventors and innovators to improve their research work in the nation. He added that such assistance would go a long way to sustain national development and create employment in the country. (The Guardian)