Federal Government has approved indigenous satellite production in Nigeria to boost Internet broadband penetration.
The production and design will be achieved through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Project, in line with Executive Order 5, which seeks to boost local production and ensure Nigeria relies less on imports.
Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh,made this known during the South South dialogue between government and stakeholders in the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) ecosystem in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The minister said the geopolitical dialogues would enhance the productive capacities of each zone and promote the nation’s global competitiveness and productivity.
Ikoh said technology and innovation centres have the task of showcasing the role of STI in socioeconomic development, noting that this will ensure Nigeria moves from a resource-based economy to a knowledge and innovation-driven economy.
He said the centres would provide enabling environment for the emergence of tech giants, innovative discoveries and inventions that will accelerate reverse engineering.
The minister assured Nigerians that the Federal Government will work hard to ensure the success of technology development in the country and that innovations and output are of world-class standard.
Earlier, the National Coordinator, Strategy Implementation Task Office for Presidential Executive Order 5, Ibiam Oguejiofor, noted that the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation will collaborate with relevant stakeholders in the ecosystem to promote the application of STI in all sectors of the economy.
Also, Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Prince C. Mmom, commended the Federal Government for considering the state as host of the South-South zone dialogue and a centre of excellence for global competiveness and productivity.
He added that the state government is willing to support the promotion of indigenous technology in the country.