Kaduna — Minister of Science and Technology, Alhassan Bako Zako, has said the Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Japanese firm which will use Nim plant, for the production of fertiliser, insecticides and other products.

Zako disclosed this in Kaduna, at the annual Science and Technology Week of the Ministry of Science and Technology with the theme "Science and Technology and the 11-point agenda."

The Minister said the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, signed the agreement so as to ensure that natural resources like the nim plants that abound in the northern part of Nigeria are converted into useful products for the use of all Nigerians.

He applauded the effort of the ministry in Kaduna State for ensuring that science and technology remain relevant within the state and charged them to move their search for innovations to the grass roots especially the rural areas.

The guest lecturer at the occasion, Professor Andrew Nok of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria said the Federal Government's 7-point as well as the Kaduna State 11-point agenda are achievable if the governments at all levels could lay more emphasis on science and technology.

Nok said Japan is where it is today because of their advancement in science and technology and that Nigeria , in the comity of other nations will only be taken seriously if it advances itself in science and technology.

The NLNG Science award winning professor, while stressing the importance of science and technology and its contribution to the life of mankind said "medical advancements, computers and simple invention such as the light bulb are all examples of how science and technology are beneficial to the life of people." The Chairman of the occasion and Provost of College of Education (COE), Kafanchan, Mr. Ishaya Garry Akawo , while commending the state government for the interest it has shown in science and technology, said with the four new science secondary schools, Kaduna State is about to construct, the state would soon lead other states in scientific advancement, and revealed that his college has decided to reserved 60 per cent of the available space for science candidates so that the demand for science teachers in the state's primary and secondary schools would be met.