Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) has called on the stakeholders in the power sector to address epileptic power supply, to boost research activities and development in the country.The Director-General of SHESTCO, Prof. Paul Onyenekwe, gave the advice on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Onyenekwe said that the research institutes and manufacturing industries needed regular electricity supply to power their equipment to achieve a desired result.
According to him, lots still need to be done in the power sector as epileptic power supply affects research institutes and indusries in carrying out their activities.
“Power supply is the central point of all activities whether in research institutes or industries.
Without power, one will have to use generator but we cannot be using generator as there are some sensitive equipment that you are not supposed to switch off”.
“The solar source of power as an alternative energy cannot be used effectively for research activities as it cannot go for longer hours especially during rainy season,” he said
Onyenekwe also commended the Federal Government for appointing Chief Uche Nnaji as the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, saying that the minister was currently driving the sector to add value to Nigeria’s economy.
According to him, recently, SHESTCO has improved some of its researches on innovative technology especially in the areas of agro machinery and the production of a diagnostic machine to detect malaria parasite.
The director-general also appealed to the National Assembly to revisit the National Research and Innovation Fund Bill to improve the sector.
He said if the bill became an Act, it would address the challenges facing the science, technology and innovation sector as it would boost research and development activities in the country.
“The major problem in the Science, Technology and Innovation sector is the funding. The National Research and Innovation Fund which had been passed by the National Assembly severally was never assented to”.
“The bill, when passed into law, would go a long way to address problems of the research institutes in the country.
“As TETFUND is presently addressing funding challenges in the universities, National Research and Innovation Fund will address funding and also take care of innovators,” Onyenekwe said.
