…As FG moves to reduce raw materials importation
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has urged manufacturers to improve on the innovation of their products, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is committed to encouraging indigenous companies to diversify the economy.
He made this statement during an inspection visit to Cutix Plc in Nnewi.
Dr Onu commended the initiatives of the private sector in playing its rightful role in driving the economy, adding that they have helped the government in job creation and poverty eradication.
He called on industrialists to explore their enterprising potential in technological development of the region, as, according to him, his ministry would send some of the federal agencies to assist them in the areas of innovation.
He stated that the Ministry of Science and Technology is continuously encouraging research and innovation in different areas, adding that the manufacturers would make more profit by using locally produced materials.
Onu said that the aim of his visit was, “to fraternize with captains of indigenous industries to find out what their challenges were and where the Federal Government could assist.
“The Buhari-led government was keen about restoring the lost glory of the country in all the areas of the economy and the captains of industries would not be left out”.
Earlier, in her remarks during the visit, Mrs Ijeoma Oduonye, CEO of Cutix Plc thanked Dr Onu for his visit and urged his ministry to collaborate with Cutix Company in the area of innovation.
She said that Cutix Plc has improved in their quest for innovation through, “fabricating a number of our machinery in our factory. One of the coilers we use in our factory was designed, built and commissioned by a staff of the company.
Oduonye said, “All our machineries in the new Cable Plant were installed by a team of our in-house maintenance staff and Engineers and we just commissioned a new workshop in our factory with the intention of designing and fabrication a number of our spare parts in-house.”
Enumerating their challenges, she requested the ministry to assist them in getting the support of the Federal Government, solving the persistent congestions at the ports in Nigeria, access to direct allocation of forex to commercial banks for importation of raw materials by manufacturing companies, public power supply and government patronage of their products.
