The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has said it’s monitoring happenings in the technological space and is set to launch an initiative in Lagos on Thursday which it says will help youths in Nigerian universities come up with new ideas that will propel the country to play actively in the fourth industrial revolution.
Ama Ikuru, the General Manager, Capacity Building Division of the Board said the NCDMB is working with academia in specific areas that will help the board in areas of green energy among other things for the next decades.
The NCDMB and it’s implementing partner Enactus Nigeria, will be launching the first-ever Science and Technology Innovation Challenge (STIC) at the Radisson Blu, Victoria Island.
“The initiative we are launching tomorrow – the science and technology challenge – is supposed to enable us to mobilize the creative energies of youths in Nigerian universities to help them come up with new ideas that will help propel us to the next decade and help us play in the fourth industrial revolution,” said Ikuru.
He further said that, “the N50 million the board has put in place for research and development is open to all researchers and innovators to apply for and use for the development of research in key areas of the economy.
“Ultimately when the board is able to grow our participation in the industry to the level we have targeted ourselves which is 70%, then it’s possible to have more resources to support research into other areas that will support the development of clean energy in the Nigerian economy.”
He noted that the board is interested in doing things that will help in launching them beyond the economy and become globally competitive.
By Abel Ejikeme