Diplomat Counsels Fed. Govt. on Power Supply, Technological Growth

It has been asserted that in order to check inadequate power supply which had remained a serious setback to technological development in the country, there is the need for the Federal Government to change its strategy by ensuring option of renewable energy.
Former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Zambia, high Chief Moses Ogumola, gave the assertion today in Oyo town at a seminar.
Ogunmola said this would improve access to cheaper alternative to diesel powered generators used by most industries, as well as small and medium scale entrepreneurs.
“It would also reduce high cost of production experienced by industries pending the rehabilitation of the power sector. Data on the contribution of the manufacturing sector to the Nigerian economy showed a stagnant and poor performance. Being a large employer of labour, there is therefore the need to encourage the sector using modern technology in order to enhance national development and subsequently national security”.
While pointing out that energy is a critical factor in the development of any country, he lamented that the current electricity generation in the country which keeps oscillating between 2,800 to 4,000 megawatts as against a demand of 10,000 megawatts has caused existing industries to reduce or stop production totally.
Ogunmola identified inadequate energy, weak education system, inadequate synergy in Research and Development, inadequate ICT infrastructure, lack of incentives to industries and  small and medium scale enterprises, as well as ineffective commercialization of intellectual property as major challenges to technological advancement in the country.
The former Ambassador posited that without adequate product adaptation and development in the manufacturing sector to sufficiently reduce alarming unemployment rate and poverty, particularly among the youths, there can hardly be peace in the country.
Ogunmola, who is also an historian and the Otun of Oyo, said without adequate product adaptation and development in the manufacturing sector, to sufficiently reduce alarming unemployment rate and poverty, particularly among the youths, there can hardly be peace in the country.
“Similarly, the collapse of the technical and trade school system and increase in the intake into poorly administered tertiary institutions has resulted in dearth of skilled craftsmen, as well as inadequate trained graduates. The present status of education may not be able to produce the quality of human capacity required to drive the knowledge-based economy envisaged by the STI policy”.
“Similarly, the collapse of the technical and trade school system and increase in the intake into poorly administered tertiary institutions has resulted in dearth of skilled craftsmen, as well as inadequate trained graduates. 

"The present status of education may not be able to produce the quality of human capacity required to drive the knowledge-based economy envisaged by the STI policy”.
He submitted that National Universities Commission (NUC), and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) could be tasked to review their monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure that the quality of Nigerian graduates meet acceptable standards.
“The Federal Government can adopt performance-based funding for intervention in tertiary institutions, to engender competition and commitment. This strategy would strengthen Nigeria’s education system to produce the human capacity required for advancement in technology”.

 

By  Bode Durojaiye.