Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, says President Buhari has approved a new name for his ministry, now known as the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Mr Onu announced this in a news briefing on Friday in Abuja.

Expected to be gazetted, the minister said the name change would enhance economic growth and global competitiveness, and make Nigeria a nation of innovators.

The minister said that in 2017 the Federal Executive Council approved the National Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap (NSTIR 2017-2030) so as to use science, technology and innovation (STI) to catalyse Nigeria’s economic growth and competitiveness.

“This document laid out a core policy for driving positive socio-economic outcomes through science, technology and innovation in all activities of the economy,” Mr Onu said.

Mr Onu said the ministry shall now focus on the provision of STI-based solutions to overcome societal challenges.

“We all know that there has been a missing link with the statutory responsibility of the ministry.

This decision by the President will ensure that the missing link will be adequately addressed.

“Immediately we are able to commercialise Research and Development breakthroughs, the nation’s global competitiveness ranking will improve tremendously with varying degrees of development that are sustainable.

“These include a robust STI ecosystem that will accommodate continuous system improvement, product quality enhancement and guaranteed standardisation of ‘Made-In-Nigeria’ goods and services,’’ he said.