Science & Tech
THE Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has advised parents to encourage their children to take up career in sciences.
Onu gave the advice while receiving the delegation of Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN), led by its Chairperson, Mrs Joy Umunna-Nwaigwe on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said it became imperative for parents to encourage children to take up career in sciences to fast-track gender balance in the profession.
The minster also urged professional women engineers to deepen their efforts as role models to young girls in the tertiary institutions to redress gender imbalance in the engineering profession.
He said the on-going Expo 2018 was meant to sensitise Nigerians on the importance of science and technology and its link to communications, public works, industry, agriculture, health among others.
The theme of the expo is “Fast-Tracking Sustainable Development of Nigeria through Science and Technology’’.
Onu urged the association to use the opportunity of the Executive Order five recently signed by the president, to enhance its leverage in the engineering profession to compete for jobs in Nigeria and overseas.
The proclamation entitled”Presidential executive order 5 is meant for planning and execution of projects, promotion of Nigerian content in contracts and science, engineering and technology.
He said the ministry would strengthen its collaboration with serious minded scientists and other professionals, including APWEN, to move the country forward.
“Nigeria will not be able to build a virile economy until there is a visible shift from commodity-driven to knowledge and innovation driven economy,’’ he said.
Onu commended the members of the association for attaining prominent positions in their various vocations.
Earlier, Umunna-Nwaigwe appealed to the ministry to partner with the association to promote its Science, technology Engineering and mathematics (STEM) and biomedical engineering projects.
She said that the aim of the association was to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of technology in Nigeria.
The chairperson, however, urged government to equip science laboratory in various rural areas of the country. NAN
– Mar. 6, 2018 @ 18:25 GMT |
Tags: Encourage children to take up career in sciences Minister urges parents
