PMB’s Administration Places Premium On Science, Tech & Innovation – NACETEM DG  

BY GLORIA USMAN, ABUJA – Director-General of the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), Professor Okechukwu Ukwuoma, has said the administration of President Muhammad Buhari places premium on science, technology and innovation as a driver of the nation’s economy.

Professor Ukwuoma, who stated this at a National workshop on Management of Science, Technology and Innovation Projects in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, assured that no stone will be left unturned in making science, technology and innovation a veritable tool for sustainable development.

He said the workshop is coming at a very auspicious moment, adding that the significance attached to science and technology is evident in the kind of support this administration has extended to the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and its Agencies.

According to him; “It is with this backing that NACETEM, as an agency of the ministry, has been relentless in reaching out to all and sundry, particularly in the area of capacity building.”  

He further said that the workshop was designed to enhance the skills of professionals in science and technology sector and help to develop concrete and practicable solutions to address knowledge and skills gaps in managing Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) based projects across the various economic sectors in Nigeria.

According to him; “NACETEM is ready to expose us to the global best practices in managing science, technology and innovation based projects via this workshop. Essentially, participants will learn Project Management skills and will be acquainted with Project Management tools that will come in handy in managing STI based projects.”

Ukwuoma said NACETEM, as a knowledge support institution, always comes up with cutting edge knowledge that will not only reposition participating organisations at its training programmes but also ensures that such organisations are given adequate follow ups in the proper deployment of the knowledge acquired.

While assuring that this will mark the beginning of an enduring mutually rewarding relationship, he enjoined the participants to feel free to interact with the faculty with a view to forging a synergy that will help realise the objectives of the workshop.

The workshop had in attendance professionals such as Project managers, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Builders and the array of professionals from both the private and public sectors.