The newly created agency for Science and Technology of the FCT Education Secretariat is poised to 'achieve its mandate of harnessing all available science and technology, chemistry, medicine, agriculture and ICT to promote sustainable economic and rural development in the FCT and the nation as a whole. Giving. this assurance in an interview, the director of the agency, Hajia Fatima Baba-Ari, outlined the key programmes of the agency as developing of alternative sources of energy which include fuel, solar energy, wind energy, capacity building, provision of infrastructure, human capital development, training of personnel in various specialities as well as environment and health care.

Also included in its mandate is processing of waste collection to enhance separation of organic waste of all categories into bio-gas and organic manure, the development of recycling industries for paper, plastic, tin and electronics as well as other-special waste. She explained further that the benefits of the agency's programmes are the reduction of current energy/electricity deficit,generation.of employment and wealth, boosting of agricultural production, innovation of all our organic wastes to produce useful products rreduction of environment pollution, indigenous research and bio researches development for commercial application.

To achieve all these, the director added that, the agency is taking steps to give priority to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education. This, she said, entails the redesigning of the science education curriculum accordingly and to be examined by National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB). She also spoke about the establishment of technical and vocation centres for students in the area councils in addition to the existing ones. According to her, six pilot schools have already been identified by the agency whose laboratories will be equipped with laboratory science kits.

Their qualified teachers trained will further as well as sustaining the interest of the students in science oriented subjects. This will be done at an early age through programmes of the Universal Basic Education. The agency will also organise science quiz competition to help sharpen the skills of the pupils in the areas of science and technology also provide incentives to encourage them make it a profession . The agency also will pay advocacy visits to the Area councils for career talks especially to encourage and coach the female students, preparing and participating in national and international science and technology competitions such as the National Mathematics Competition and the International Science Olympiad.