It is not news to say that Nigeria is going through tough hurdles dealing with challenges on many fronts - soaring food prices, transportation costs, energy costs and it's effects on all other costs in Nigeria. Other nations in Europe and North America are not immune to the rising costs as the crisis in the Middle East has affected supply chain of fossil fuels.
These challenges create opportunities to test the resolve of leaders to find lasting solutions to alleviate the suffering of the masses. Finding lasting solutions, requires first understanding of the root causes of the problems before addressing them. Soaring food cost was caused by a combination of different factors. First is the apathy to farming caused by unmitigated attacks on farming communities by herders, kidnap of farmers or murder by bandits. Added to this problem is the years of poor investment in commercial agriculture especially in food processing and packaging industry.
On the issue of security, the ministry of science and technology has entered into strategic alliance with drone manufacturers in India and USA to deploy advanced surveillance drones system for aerial surveillance to aid tactical combat superiority against bandits and tracking of suspicious movements within commercial farming facilities and remote farming communities. This innovation in security will increase response time and help nip crime in the bud. It takes one drone few hours of operation to cover an area of land that will require 3000 guards days to do. This is power of innovation in science and technology.
A visit to many farmers market will shock you. Why? Over 40 percent of farm produce are lost to poor preservation . There is a severe shortage in investment in agro processing and packaging industry. It is less expensive, yet more lucrative to invest in agro and allied industries than to invest in building hotels in areas with low patronage in tourism.
All over the world, farmers are amongst the richest people, especially those who produce healthy, export grade organic food. Nigerians must key into agribusiness to enjoy the windfall. The various research institutions under the ministry of innovation science and technology have successfully rolled out various improvements in seedlings like the all season, drought resistant TELA MAIZE and other products to boost food production
Prior to emergence of Chief Uche Nnaji NWAKIBIE, the government bureaucracy to get the required registration and certification as a practitioner in the food science and technology value chain was frustrating and discouraging. To eliminate the delays, the honorable minister put in the necessary technology and motivated the manpower for efficiency, due process and due diligence in timely issue of the certifications under regulatory body, the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology -NiCFoST.
I met with the chief executive of the NiCFoST. The processes are easy, the equipment is affordable and investment in food processing and packaging is a lucrative venture. Healthy food is medicine to the body, saves lives and reduces incidences of health crisis. Over sixty percent of sicknesses can be prevented or even cured through diet. The secret to Healthy body starts with Healthy, organic food.
Parents, encourage your children to study food science and technology. With the population of Nigeria, a small investment in this industry will bring good returns .
I am a regular herb tea drinker. I can tell you that if Nigerians package, and advertise our healthy tea , the high demand for dollar for import of Chinese tea will turn to huge sums into the pockets of both farmers and food processors and packaging services. Bitter leaf tea, Lemon tea, Zobo tea, they serve as natural anti oxidants, detoxifying, reducing stress, blood pressure and even blood sugar and fat. Nigeria dealt COVID 19 a big blow because of abundance of healthy organic teas.
The honorable minister also briefed me on the federal government Energy Transition Initiative. Compressed Natural Gas is a cheaper and cleaner alternative to petrol and diesel. Go CNG. GO GREEN ENERGY. Solar PV panels will soon be produced locally in Nigeria to reduce the import cost and serve as an alternative to petrol generators for small and medium scale businesses. Solar Energy is the route to sustainable environment, off grid solution.
The positive effects of government investments in Solar technology and compressed Natural Gas will be seen in the reduction of prices of goods and services in 2025 as transportation costs reduce by 70 percent. Like building a house, these investments in technology take specific timelines to complete the infrastructure and equipment installations.
I had quality discussions with the honorable minister and I must say this, ACCESS TO THE MINISTER OF INNOVATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY is easy and effortless. He means business. He is transforming the ministry. He is a welcoming,soft spoken ambassador of business growth. He is also welcoming innovations and innovators are smiling to the bank. His focus is on mass commercialization of research to turn Nigeria from a consumer nation to a producer nation
Innovation, science and technology is future of Nigeria. Send your children and wards to study sciences, technical, Mathematics and engineering. They are high earners
Bishop Chinedu Nwoye
