{Tech} Nigeria ranks 106 out of 140 countries on Tech Readiness, says Onu.
LAGOS—Minister of
Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said that in Global
Competitiveness Report for 2015/2016, Nigeria recorded a score of 3.0
out of 7 and ranked 106 out of 140 countries on Technological Readiness
and a score of 2.8 out of 7 with a rank of 117 out of 140 countries on
Innovation.
The minister at a policy dialogue with private sector organised by the
Nigeria Economic Submit Group, NESG, said: “It is worth pointing out
that 13 of the countries that ranked among the top 20 in the Global
Competitive Index also ranked among the top 20 in the rankings of the
Technological Readiness and Innovation Pillars.
They are Switzerland, Singapore, United States of America, Germany,
Netherlands, Japan, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark,
Belgium and Luxembourg.
“When we look at the MINT countries of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and
Turkey, apart from the fact that the other three are doing much better
than us in competitiveness, they rank far above Nigeria in the rankings
on Technological Readiness and Innovation.
“We should aim to be the best for only the best is good enough for
Nigeria. We can no longer continue to depend on others. The time has
come for us to be self-reliant and also be competitive enough for others
to depend on us at least in some areas. This will nourish our national
pride.”
“Closing the development gap will depend on closing the existing STI
investment gaps. While a target of 1% of GDP for Research and
Development, RD, is perceived as high by many governments, countries
with strong and effective STI systems invest up to 3.5% of their GDP in
RD.
“If countries wish to break the poverty cycle and achieve Sustainable
Development Goals SDGs, they will have to set up ambitious national
minimum target investment for STI.”
Source: Vanguardngr.com
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