…Lauds Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for its digitization drive
…Commissions Locally Produced Complimentary Feeding Products
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the development of science, technology agriculture and mineral resources for the benefit of the people of the state.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya restated this while declaring open the 2021 Science, Technology, Innovation, Agriculture and Mineral Resources Exposition, organised by the State Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
The 2021 EXPO has as its theme: “Science Technology and Innovation for Economic Recovery and Sustainability amidst covid-19 Challenges”.
The Governor noted that Science and Technology play a critical role in the industrialisation and sustainable economic development of most nations as well as influence a country’s level of development and determine its international competitiveness and ranking in the world’s economy.
Similarly, Governor Inuwa Yahaya said natural resources have been the main drivers of economic development of most nations across the globe.
He described the theme of this year’s event as apt and timely in view of the critical role of science, technology and innovation in finding solutions to the developmental challenges and survival of humanity.
He assured of his administration’s commitment to promoting Science and Technology, Agriculture and Mineral Resources Development in the State.
“Let me use this opportunity to commend the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for the successful commencement of production of complementary food for the management of moderately malnourished children in the state”.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya said it is for this reason that his administration reviewed upward budgetary allocation for the production of complimentary food in view of the fact that the future of the State belongs to the younger generation.
“It is a common knowledge that despite the huge food crops we produce annually, the State is rated among the severely malnourished, thereby causing high infant and children mortality rates. For this reason, our administration reviewed upwards the budgetary allocation for production of complementary feeding by 150% because the future of our State belongs to our children and youths and we are duty bound to ensure that we succeed in our collective goal of building a great, peaceful and prosperous state”.
He also commended the ministry for its commitment to digitising MDAs in the state with the provision of IT infrastructure and equipment as Gombe makes giant strides to attain E- governance status.
He noted that the State Ministry of Justice, Due process office, Teachers Service Commission, State Independent Electoral Commission and the Airport police outpost have all been fully digitised.
The Governor who was highly impressed by the display of talent by young men and women in inventions, innovation and craft, said, “It is my belief that exhibition like this will help stimulate activities across all segments of agriculture value chain, enhance collaboration and commercialization of products, boost our internal revenue generation and provide employment for our teeming youths”.
He called on the youths to avail themselves of the opportunity and work hard to ensure speedy development of indigenous technology as a catalyst for the socio-economic development of the State and the country at large.
While calling on investors within and outside the country to patronize these sectors for enhanced employment opportunities and economic development, the Governor urged the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation to remain committed to promoting technological development in order to reduce over dependence on imported products, saying this will create employment opportunities for the teeming youths with attendant reduction in criminal activities.
Earlier in her address of welcome, the State Commissioner of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Aishatu Umar Maigari said, this is the first time Gombe State Government is holding the Expo back to back.
This, the Commissioner added, is not coming as a surprise considering Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s precedence of development in the ministry and the State as a whole.
She said through the support of the Governor, her ministry is on the process of digitising some MDAs and has also embarked on production of complimentary food for the management of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) in the State.
The commissioner disclosed that Governor Inuwa Yahaya has been nominated for an award as the ‘Nutrition Champion for the Nigerian Child’ by the International Society for Media in Public Health ( ISMPH) in recognition of his sterling performance in addressing malnutrition among children.
In a goodwill message, the head of nutrition department at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Solomon Karim commended the Gombe State Government for utilizing available resources in the production of complimentary food for children suffering from moderate acute malnutrition.
Highlights of the event included displays by some young indigenous inventors; from Sadiq Suleiman Mohammed, a Physics student of the Gombe State University who showcased a locally made drone to the admiration of the Governor; to one Dorcas Darius of the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation who presented a finished product of tomatoes value chain addition and the conversion of waste materials to organic manure.
Similarly, Triple Hitech Company displayed a solar sprayer to use on farm lands and Gombe State Dyers Association were equally on ground to showcase the art of tie and dye.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya also commissioned the complimentary feeding product, a brain child of the State Ministry of Science,Technology and Innovation for the management of children suffering from Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) in the state.
