Minister urges African countries to add value to natural resources

Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation charged African nations to add value to their abundant natural resources so as to achieve socio-economic development.

The minister gave the charge in Abuja on Thursday when a delegation of the African Union Scientific Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC), visited him.

He said adding value to natural resources would also foster self-reliance and help to reduce importation.

Onu maintained that the difference between developed and developing countries was in investment in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).

He advised Africans to exploit their natural resources, commercialise, and export them.

He reiterated that with increased focus on STI, African countries would be able to create jobs and reduce poverty.

Onu pledged that the ministry, through one of its agencies, the National Space Research Development Agency, would partner with the Commission to support the Pan-African University, based in Ibadan.

Earlier, Prof. Mohammed Belhocine, the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation at the AU-STRC who led the delegation, said the purpose of the visit was to seek collaboration with the ministry.

He said that the support of the Nigerian government was needed to facilitate one of the institutes of the Ibadan-based Pan-African University.

Belhocine said that the ministry should help with the provision of vital equipment needed at the institute.