The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, says that innovation and technology remain a priority of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Tinubu, aimed at reducing poverty among Nigerians.

Mr Nnaji said this on Tuesday in Enugu while declaring open a two-day technology exposition and show organised by the National Board for Technology Incubation under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.

The minister noted that the federal government had prioritised innovation and technology in its five critical areas to pull Nigerians out of poverty and lack.

According to him, these areas where innovation and technology are highly deployed included food and energy security, poverty eradication initiatives, economic growth, job creation, financial inclusion and access to capital.

Through the ministry, Mr Nnaji noted that the government would continue to support brilliant and bright ideas by turning them into products and services to be utilised by Nigerians and for export.

NBTI director-general Kazeem Raji, in an address, said the agency remained steadfast in its mission to create enabling environments through well-equipped technology incubation centres, strategic partnerships and forward looking policies.

The rector of the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, Gozie Ogbodo, commended the NBTI in collaboration with Globetel Services Limited for the initiative that sought to bridge the gap between research and industry knowledge and action.

Mr Ogbodo stated that technology incubation was the bridge that connected academic excellence to industrial relevance. He noted that the national pursuit of the developmental agenda and initiatives could only be sustained and improved through research and development.

Martins Iluyomade, the South-East director of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, said NAFDAC would sustain its partnership with the NBTI.

(NAN)