Nigeria’s science and technology minister, Ita Okon Bassey Ewa, has handed over cheques to 29 beneficiaries of the NGN18 million (US$112,000) financial grant presented by the Presidential Standing Committee on Inventions and Innovations (PSCII).
Beneficiaries include Onifade Opeyemi, whose wind turbine Opeontronics Renewable Power Technology got NGN1 million (US$6,200).
The grant is aimed at assisting local inventors and innovators “in creativity, inventions and innovation that will further national development, economic growth and global competitiveness”.
Speaking at the presentation, Ewa advised the beneficiaries to pursue further innovations with the grant.
“I challenge all the beneficiaries here to work towards further creativity, inventions and innovations, using this grant, as this forms the critical factor in national development, economic growth and global competitiveness,” Ewa said.
Since the grant programme was initiated in October 2005, 103 inventors and innovators from across the country’s six geo-political zones have benefitted from the financial support initiative.
Responding on behalf of other beneficiaries, Ekpo Cletus noted that with more investments, financial commitments and support for science and technology, Nigeria has the capability to surpass China in less than five years.
He added that the funds would be used in improving their various projects and making them ready for the market.
Other beneficiaries promised to scale up their works and intensify efforts aimed at providing technology solutions to challenges facing Nigerians.
