Two of the senators representing Anambra State, Stella Oduah and Ifeanyi Ubah, shunned the Senate Committee on Science and Technology Committee headed by Uche Ekwunife as they stormed the State for a two-day workshop, ANAMBRA PEOPLE reports.
Ubah represents Anambra South zone, while Oduah represents North and both are contesting in 2023.
The two day workshop by the Senators, saw the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo SAN, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim and Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo in attendance.
Some other States, including Delta and Bayelsa, sent their deputy governors to the event in Anambra.
In his address, Osinbajo called for the reappraisal and rebranding of the national innovation ecosystem to drive technological and socio-economic development in the country.
It was during the opening of a two-day National Innovation Workshop with the theme – ‘Promotion of Inventors of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)’
The event was held at the 12,000 capacity International Convention Centre ICC, in Awka, which was built by the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano.
The workshop was organised by the Senate Committee on Science and Technology and the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology.
Osinbajo was represented by the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chief Henry Ikoh.
“The way to go to bridge the gap between the poor and the rich is through thinking out of the box, innovation and commercialisation of thoughts.”
Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, said there was the need for a national policy to promote STI, saying, it is the new way of life.
“Without STI, nothing happens. In Anambra we recognised this fact and we have been taking proactive measures to make Anambra the home of talents for STI in the country.
“The policy will also mandate Nigerians and the Nigerian government to promote indigenous inventors and innovators by patronising them. If they innovate and invent, and nobody patronises them, their ideas will die,” Soludo stressed.
Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, delivered the lecture.
He said there was an urgent need to draw attention and to prepare the country for the 4th industrial revolution.
“We need to groom and nurture Nigerian youths into the path of science, technology and innovation to key into the opportunities that the 4th industrial revolution will present and place our economy on a sustainable path for growth, “Anyim said.
Chairman of the Committee, on Science and Technology, Uche Ekwunife, said the workshop was to connect innovators, inventors, academia, policy makers, entrepreneurs, tech companies and students from across the country.
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