Lagos — Our land is known for its wealth of natural resources and our citizens are also known for their resourcefulness, enterprise and tenacity. However, knowledge, skills and intellectual property rather than resource potentials are now the major driving force of global wealth creation. The best demonstration of this fact can be found among the Asian countries. The longer we relegate Science and Technology (S&T) to the background of our development process the wider the gap will grow between us and the rapidly developing countries of the world, regardless of our resource endowment. It is on this note that we must acknowledge recent concerns of government to reposition S&T for accelerated socio-economic development and enhanced service delivery.

President Obasanjo has personally given positive and strong signals in this direction and we see the new National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) in its totality as creating the necessary environment for professionalism, excellence and improved productivity. We must add that the same environment, with appropriate adjustments, is also imperative for cultivation of a durable culture of S&T.

The NigeriaSat-1 is an Earth Observation Micro-Satellite. It is the first national low orbit remote sensing satellite to be built by a Sub-saharan African nation. Contract for the satellite was signed between the Nigerian government, represented by my ministry and the Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) of the United Kingdom on 7th November, 2000. The contract included the training of fifteen Nigerian scientists/engineers in know-how and technology-transfer for fifteen months. The satellite was successfully launched on September 27, 2003 in Plesetsk, Russia. It has been fully commissioned in orbit and has been functioning remarkably well, beaming sharp images of the global environment back to the earth station here at Abuja. The trained Nigerian scientists/engineers are successfully managing the system by themselves.

Many of you are aware that in order to gain national access to the global information highway it is necessary to register a top level domain name with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The top level domain name (tld) for Nigeria is .ng. Mrs. Ibukun Odusote of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation registered the .ngtld for Nigeria in 1995 with ICANN.

All administrative processes have been concluded for the re-delegation of the .ngtld to NITDA and as directed by Mr. President, NITDA is on the process of forming and registering a body consisting of important stakeholders and interested internet community in Nigeria to manage the .ngtld.

The Federal Government and Microsoft Corporation in June 2003, entered into a software licensing agreement for a period of three years at a total cost of N3.0 billion. The agreement includes the right to use all Microsoft products including all new releases during the validity period for the windows family, office family and the server class. The agreement further provides for free software to all Federal Universities and Secondary Schools in the country.

The agreement also covers an initial quantity of 35,000 personal computers and Microsoft Corporation shall conduct a training programme for two hundred and fifty (250) IT trainers within the Public Service who shall be trained and equipped with the skills to provide training to other public servants. Furthermore, Microsoft shall establish a fully equipped computer laboratory with 50 networked systems for training public servants at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

The implementation of the agreement is on course. In order to avoid double payment for same product by the Federal Government, all Permanent Secretaries were briefed on the project in February 2004 and a one day workshop was organized by NITDA and Microsoft Corporation to all Heads of IT Units in the Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments and Parastatals of Government in March 2004. Already, Microsoft has delivered most of the software package covered under the agreement and the Federal Government has paid part of its 2004 financial obligation to the organization.

Launching of e-Government and the Public Service Network The efforts of this administration in accomplishing its goals and shared vision for the development and application of Information and Communications Technology, ICT, in Nigeria are not in doubt.

Nigeria's ICT market is currently one of the largest and fastest growing market in Africa. Actions being undertaken by Government include: Setting up an ICT implementing body and a clearing house National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for all government ICT projects; Government is making efforts to integrate ICT into the various sectors of the economy through e-Government; Government is making effort to be part of the digital revolution and implementation of the decisions of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS); and

Government is making effort to be the major driving force in the implementation of the WSIS process in West Africa.

In order to successfully implement the e-Government programme in Nigeria, the Federal Government has launched the Public Service Network (PSnet) programme. The PSnet, is expected to: provide standard domain names and websites for all Federal Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, Parastatals and State Governments; ensure that each establishment is provided with standard domain name and website and has a standard Local Area Network (LAN);

ensure that each establishment has an exchange server that will enhance communication within the establishment exclusive of the internet facilities; provide Wide Area Network (WAN) between NITDA and all of public establishments; and

provide an exchange server at NITDA that will ensure communication between NITDA and all the public establishments.

The PSnet programme is fully on course and has been provided with the sum of N200 million in the 2004 budget. The PSnet report update for June 2004 is attached as Annexure II. It is worth noting that NITDA has registered standard domain names for all Ministries, Extra-Ministerial Departments, Parastatals and State Governments.

I have already made reference to the concerns of government to reposition science and technology for more effective service delivery. Government's concern is informed by the fact that more than ever before, science and technology now constitutes the major driving force of global wealth creation and national development.

On the other hand, NBRRI has the mandate to research into the use of local raw materials for the building and construction industries. The two mandates are pivotal to Mr. President's desire to expand the industrial horizon of the country and ensure improved service delivery to Nigerians.

During the visit of Mr. President to FIIRO, he was shown some composite bread and other confectioneries baked with 10 percent cassava flour as replacement for an equal amount of wheat flour. On his return from the visit, Mr. President promptly directed that a meeting be convened of all stakeholders in the business of flour milling, bakery, cassava growing and relevant research institutes. All the pertinent issues were exhaustively discussed during that meeting and Mr. President expressed his appreciation for the openness of the discussions. He was particularly pleased with the fact that there was less resistance to the issue than he had anticipated. He then noted that the Bakers and Flour Millers would need to be fully convinced on the feasibility of the 10 percent cassava content in bread. FIIRO was therefore, directed to demonstrate all over the country the feasibility of baking 90/10 percent wheat/cassava composite flour bread. The Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) and the National Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) are to be involved in the exercise.

It was further decided that the legislation on 10 percent Cassava Composite Bread should be effective from January 1, 2005, while the Committee's Report should be presented to the Federal Executive Council as a Memorandum for consideration latest by the end of August 2004.

You will all agree with me that the introduction of 10 percent Cassava Composite Bread will have positive effects on the economy, as it will: expand the market for cassava growers; result in scarce forex savings; and create expansion of the technology of cassava composite bread bakery within the national economy and attendant skill generation.

Commercialisation of Ceramic Porcelain Insulators FIIRO also noted that already there exist domestic manufacturers in the country who are quite capable of meeting the national demand for low tension electrical transmission porcelain insulators.

I am glad to report that my ministry has received feedback from local manufacturers indicating that their plans have reached an advanced stage to: achieve the set target for local demand for low voltage insulators; develop local capacity for 11KVA insulators within 18 months; and

develop domestic capacity for 32KVA insulators within 24 months of the directive.

Meanwhile, as directed by Mr. President, my ministry has already initiated a programme for reinforcing R&D capacities at FIIRO and PRODA to enable the locally produced insulators meet international standards for possible exploitation of export potential of any excess capacity.

Commercialisation of the Neem Processing Project One of the major achievements made during the year under review was the successful production of a highly effective bio-insecticide from neem seed. The neem tree is a tropical evergreen plant which grows well all over the country but particularly adaptive to the arid and semi-arid zones of most northern states. Every part of the neem plant, root, bark, stem, leaf and seed, has an industrial application particularly for pharmaceuticals and bio-insecticides. In view of the industrial potential of the plant and the fact that it grows well in Nigeria, the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria, and the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Ibadan, have successfully conducted research into the use of the plant in line with literature reports from other countries. Following the positive results, the research institutes went ahead to establish pilot commercialization programmes of neem products processing.

he economic potentials of neem was brought to the attention of Mr. President by the chairman of the National Tree Nursery Development Programme (NTNDP) and the chairman of the P.D.P., who visited NARICT some few weeks earlier. Mr. President then on 20th April, 2004 chaired stakeholders meeting on transformation of neem waste to wealth. At that meeting, a Presidential Implementation Committee, was set up to develop strategies for the production and processing of neem into pesticides, fertilizers and oils for soap making. The commercialisation programme includes: establishment of neem plantations capable of accommodating three million trees within the next three years; and

establishment of four neem processing factories in Borno, Zamfara, Katsina and Kebbi States; each of which should have annual capacity to produce 40,000 tons of fertilizer and 500,000 litres of pesticide. The Programme is being executed in collaboration with the Green Planet Ltd. (a British firm with over 13 years experience in Nigeria) and some State Governments. My Ministry chairs the Technical Sub-committee on the project. Feasibility studies for these projects are being produced.

Commercialization of other Viable R&D Results and Inventions You may be aware that my ministry in February 2004 produced the document titled: "Profiles on Selected Commercialisable Research and Development Results". This document, which is among others being circulated here, contains briefs on some 100 projects. It is expected to benefit domestic as well as international entrepreneurs seeking to invest in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country. The selected projects have the unique advantage that each can be established using almost 100 percent domestic sourcing of raw materials, equipment design and manufacture to facilitate plant maintenance and repair.

On receipt of our document Mr. President again immediately directed that a "Saturday Forum with Mr. President" be arranged for presentation of the document to key players of the private sector. The forum is yet to hold due to some exigencies.

The forum when reconvened is expected to attract well over 250 participants who would discuss directly with Mr. President all the pertinent issues relating to the commercialization of domestic research results. Meanwhile, my ministry continues to advise government on issues affecting the capacity of the institutional framework to promote private sector interest in and eventual ownership of viable projects from our research establishments. Our advice to government in this connection often centres around the subject of: access to soft credit through venture capital financing (including re-introduction of the Risk Fund);

Capacity building for entrepreneurs; Concessions in tax payments; and

Assistance in reducing cost of production.

Commercialization and Privatization of some Build, Operate and Transfer Projects Over the past decade or more my ministry has been actively involved in a programme of development of Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) projects. Some projects under this programme, notably the two Science Equipment Development Institutes (SEDI) at Enugu and Minna and the Integrated Oil Mills Limited (IOM) at Kaduna, have been successfully developed to a point of commercial viability. The two SEDIs were established about the same time in the early 1990s, however, SEDI Minna could not be equipped on time and so its development has lagged slightly behind SEDI Enugu. Between the two SEDI, they can produce over 350 scientific equipment is 0 quality. The Ministry, through NASENI, is currently putting all hands on deck to make sure that all outstanding equipment at Minna are installed before the end of this year.

SEDI Enugu produces school kits and basic laboratory wares to international standards. It has demonstrated competence in other areas such as design and furniture construction. The institute renders essential services to industry, particularly petroleum, brewery and general manufacturer in addition to equipment and servicing of infrastructural facilities in tertiary institutions. SEDI Minna is actively being developed to attain excellence in wood works, electrical appliances and ceramics processing. The IOM, Kaduna, is the first indigenous castor oil production and processing factory in sub-saharan Africa. The company currently produces technical grade castor oil and has facilities for producing up to six grades of castor oil derivates used in the paints, lacquers, textiles, soap and cosmetics industries. Sourcing of sufficient castor seed at competitive price is presently the only hindrance to full scale operation of the plant. My ministry believes that the private sector is in a much better position to produce castor seed and operate the IOM at commercial scales.

The Federal Executive Council has approved that the three projects SEDI-Enugu, SEDI-Minna and IOM, Kaduna be immediately commercialized for subsequent privatization. Accordingly, within the next few months, Private Investment Managers as Lead investors will be appointed for the three projects. The firms will be managed on commercial scale until they can be fully privatised.

Establishment of the Management Information System Division Mr. President is keenly interested in the implementation of the e-government processes and this interest has created an enabling environment for the establishment of an MIS Unit in my Ministry. The need, you will agree, becomes more urgent especially as the Ministry forms the hub of all government IT programmes and projects. The reform process, I must say, is an added boost in this regard.

In order to establish the MIS division we had to restructure our Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) Department. The Department which previously had two divisions now has three, the third being the MIS Division with its two units - computer hardwares/networks and the Science and Technology database. I am glad to report that this minor reform of our PRSD has already received the approval of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation. When fully operational the MIS Division will greatly facilitate data storage and information retrieval and exchange in all the vital activities of the ministry.

Scientific and Technological Manpower Survey in Nigeria Lack of statistical data on vital aspects of our corporate existence as a nation is both a victim and an important cause of our inability to accelerate growth in many areas of national development. Without statistical data, it is virtually impossible to plan reliably, deploy human and material resources efficiently and effectively and make educated forecasts.

The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology is at present repositioning itself to provide much needed leadership in charting the course of technological progress of the nation. However, the Ministry cannot deploy these important tools of progress unless it obtains a clear picture of manpower strength, expertise and distribution nationwide.

Some of you will recall that Mr. President set up a committee in 2002 under the Ministry of Transport with the mandate to investigate the reasons for under-utilisation of indigenous engineering manpower in the country. The committee was necessitated by the fact that since independence to date, government has not been able to obtain vital statistical data regarding turnout of scientists, engineers, technicians and general technocrats from our tertiary institutions, their gainful employment in relevant professions and the country's apparent over-capacity in the sector.

In recognition of the importance of this information to all three tiers of government and the private sector, my Ministry approached Mr. President with a proposal. When implemented, the information will enable us set on track key programmes that require injection of qualified hands in the relevant sectors. The information will also go a long way to facilitate the channeling of human capacities in appropriate vocations and gainful employments that are being promoted by Government under various schemes. Our commitment to this project stems from the facts that: the exercise is of strategic national importance; its outcome will be indispensable to government's commitment to technological development of the nation; and

the data will be equally useful to all three tiers of Government and every segment of the private sector.

The evidence at the disposal of my ministry points to the lack of proper coordination as a major cause of the weak contribution that Science and Technology has made so far to the country's technological development, industrialisation and foreign earnings from export of our domestic know-how. When our view on the issue was brought to the attention of Mr. President, he directed that a memorandum on the subject be forwarded to the executive council (EC). In June, 2004, the EC resolved that coordination of R&D at the highest level of governance is imperative to enable us focus and put S&T/R&D in a position to spearhead the technological growth of the country. At that meeting, government also accepted, in principle, the establishment of a National Research and Development Coordination Council (NRDCC) to be chaired by Mr. President.

This decision, we believe, is well in line with similar estab Budget and Funding of S&T Activities As noted above, my ministry has all it takes in terms of basic structures and programmes to propel this country to greater heights. This could only be actualized if the activities of the Ministry are adequately funded.

It is sad to note that minimal capital allocation in 2002 and 2003 were given to the ministry. In the year 2004, the ministry was allocated the sum of N3,352,167,903 for its recurrent expenses as compared to a total national recurrent expenditure of N539,286,472,751. For the capital expenditure, the ministry, was allocated the sum of N5,701,000,000 out of a total national capital expenditure of N349,868,371,837. The ministry therefore in the current year 2004, was allocated just 1.0 per cent of the total national recurrent and capital expenses.

We expect that in the coming years better funding will be extended to all agencies of the ministry in the budget in order to be in a better position to fully perform its mandate.

The Way Forward From what has already been achieved, if the current tempo of activities is sustained, the way forward for the FMST can only lead to greater achievements. This country cannot make progress without putting Science and Technology in the front burner. With the active support of Mr. President, my ministry was able to ensure the launching, in 2003, of Nigeria's first earth observation satellite. Again with the active support of Mr. President, we are currently working hard to ensure that the country launches its communication satellite on schedule in 2006; and we will ensure that in 2008 Nigeria is able to replace the present earth observation satellite with a superior version - the NigeriaSat-2. Also all hands are on deck to ensure that Nigeriasat-2 is wholly designed by Nigerians and most of the major and sensitive components are produced locally.

It is worth noting that the Time magazine of February, 2004, analysed the current global effort in the race for space among eight countries including Nigeria. The Time noted that Nigeria's budget for the Space Programme was the lowest among the 8 countries, the system is controlled by Nigerian Scientists and further invited readers to "Look out for Nigeria" in the new race for Space.

My Ministry is poised to register a strong presence of Nigeria on the global Information Technology (IT) scene. In this connection, may I report that at the last ITU Summit in Cairo, Egypt, one of our indigenous computer companies, OMATEK Nigeria Limited, received official commendations of the world body. The Secretary General of ITU, Yoshi Itsumi was so impressed with the company's (OMATEK) branded systems that he purchased one to be displayed at the ITU headquarters in Geneva. A recent report of a study conducted by Internet World Statistics showed that Nigeria recorded a 275 per cent use growth from 2000 to 2004 in addition to a 0.5 percent population penetration. With our population size, these figures put Nigeria as one of the fastest growing IT communities in the world. Also, recently, a student of the Turkish International College here in Abuja was among gold medalists in an international competition in which schools from over 40 countries participated. It is relevant to note that the award winning project was on robotics; this is also noteworthy that a Nigerian in the diaspora is a global leader in the same field. This modest recognition represents the beginning of what my Ministry is set to achieve in collaboration with others within the public as well as the private sectors as long as government support for our activities is sustained.

It may interest you to know that we have concluded the necessary arrangements to ensure that the NEPA low voltage ceramic insulator demand is met fully by local industries without compromising product quality in meeting international standards. Similarly, we have signed an MOU with a British firm, Colechurch International, to ensure that Nigeria is not only the world leading producer of cassava; she is also a leading exporter of cassava products such as starch, chips, alcohol and glue. I have already spoken of the intervention of Mr. President on the use of wheat cassava composite flour bread. In addition, my Ministry is set to promote the commercialization of one several-cassava based confectionaries that have been perfected by our Research Institutes. Our objective is to promote indigenous competence and industry and reduce over-dependence on importation.

In the immediate future we hope to put the gamma irradiation facility at SHESTCO into use. This will enable us to ensure that grains for the country's strategic reserve and some foods for export or destined for donation to other countries are secured against infestation by insect, mold and decay. Also once the yeast strain being developed by SHESTCO receives international approval, we hope to reverse the position of Nigeria from being a major importer to a major exporter of bakers' yeast because the performance of our yeast for baking is far superior to most of the strains currently traded in the world market.

Our plans have reached an advanced stage to establish a Science and Technology Park (STP) at Sheda. With the proximity of the National Mathematical Centre (NMC) and SHESTCO, when established, the STP will make that axis a regional centre of excellence in science and technology. Initially, the STP will house, amongst others, two key projects- production of sickle cell anaemia drugs and production of HIV diagnostic and malaria test kits. The sickle-cell anaemia drug was developed in Nigeria but because of reluctance of our domestic pharmaceutical companies to venture into uncharted grounds, the drug was patented and further improved upon in the USA. The USA firm will produce this drug in Nigeria as one of the first candidates of the STP at Sheda. The second project shall be carried out in collaboration with Trinity Biotech of Ireland.

The way forward for my ministry is indeed bright as long as we have government support. We are putting even greater efforts in promoting the commercialisation of our successful research results. It is important to note that any success recorded in that direction translates immediately to the strengthening of domestic production capacity, job creation, wealth creation, poverty reduction, enhanced indigenous technical competence and huge savings in foreign exchange.

Our mission is to make science and technology truly Nigeria's engine of growth. And I want to put it on record that Nigeria will not make meaningful progress if we do not put Science and Technology in the fore.

Prof. Isoun, Minister of Science and Technology, delivered this address at a press briefing Thursday, July 22, 2004 at the Yar'Adua Centre, Abuja.