The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonaya Onu, says Nigeria will host a Science Summit involving Portuguese and Nigerian scientists, engineers and Allied professionals from Dec.4 to Dec. 5.
Onu made this known on Thursday in Abuja during a world press conference on the summit at his office.
According to him, the theme of the summit will be: “Science, Technology and Nigeria/ Portugal collaborative framework”.
“This is the first time in the history of our science and technology development in Nigeria to have a dialogue of this nature.
“This collaboration will in the short term expose our scientists to international contacts, facilitate sharing of ideas, identify who is doing what research and where and improve access to international funding.
“While in the long term, it is expected that these collaborations will fast track commercialisation of Research and Development results, and expose our scientific approaches,” he said.
Onu said the summit would feature six technical sessions including space science and technologies for socioeconomic development; biotechnology and natural products for health marine and industries.
Others, he said, are: science and society; renewable energy; Research and Development/Industry linkages; process and manufacturing technology/skills development.
He said the collaboration between Nigeria and Portugal had already placed Nigeria as a founding member of a world group to study the Atlantic Ocean using science and technology tools in space science and technology.
The minister stated that Nigeria’s Office of the Atlantic International Research (AIR) Centre would be commissioned in the course of the summit.
According to him, the AIR Centre will provide opportunity for Nigerian Scientists, Engineers and Allied professionals to join other world scientists to study and explore the Atlantic Ocean to the benefit of Nigerians and other world citizens.
“This will help us to achieve the goals of the Nigerian Economy Recovery and Growth Plan.
“This study and exploration of the Atlantic Ocean cannot be done without the involvement of Nigeria, when we have a large coastal area boundary with the Atlantic Ocean.
“The time is now for Nigeria to use the Atlantic Ocean in a sustainable way and I invite all Nigerian Scientists to join this process at this very beginning,” he said.