The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday, brought together stakeholders in the science and technology space to develop the state’s policy on science, technology and innovation, in line with the government’s Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) Agenda.

The stakeholder’s interactive session is expected to take place between Tuesday, June 14, 2022, and Friday, June 17, 2022, with the theme, “Arousing the collective views of all for sustainable Science, Technology and Innovation Policy,” at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy, in Benin City.

Stakeholders at the interactive session include representatives of the Benin branch of the Bank of Industry (BoI) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); staff and management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH); Welders’ Union; the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC); Science Teachers Association of Nigeria; Mathematical Association of Nigeria; Heads of Administration of Various Local Government Areas; Permanent Secretaries, and Commissioners, among others.

Declaring the session open, Governor Obaseki said his government is promoting innovation and deploying technology to drive sustainable growth and development.

He expressed confidence that the deliberation with the stakeholders will provide guidelines, insights and valuable inputs to properly position the state for an industrial revolution, driven by science, technology and innovation.

Obaseki said, “Life is science and science is the beginning of our life. Science is about technology and we have used technology to drive our administration.

“In the education sector, we have, through our EdoBEST programme, demonstrated that technology is a catalyst to improve learning for our children. Today, I can monitor the activities of teachers in the state through technology.”

“My administration has trained over 15,000 teachers, equipping them with tablets to help improve the learning of our children,” he added.

The governor further noted, “Our goal in Edo is that, within the next five years, we would produce nothing less than 5,000 trained software engineers.

"We are also an electricity hub as we operate the CCETC-Ossiomo Power Plant in the state and we will improve on it. If anybody will get it right in Nigeria, it's Edo State.”

“The outcome of this deliberation will capture the hopes, aspirations, and yearning of all stakeholders as we pursue our dreams of making Edo State great again,” Obaseki said.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Bartholomew Brai, thanked the governor for his commitment to driving industrialization in the state through science, technology and innovation.

"Science, technology and innovation are recognized globally as key drivers of change and development and fuel advancement that move the world forward. The potentials are unquantifiable and if properly harnessed, translate to rapid economic revolution which we are looking forward to in Edo State.”