Cross River State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr Justin Beshel, is currently in Abuja as part of a delegation of stakeholders from various sectors to attend the National Consultative Committee on Competitiveness (NCCC) conference, to discuss the implementation of the national strategy for competitiveness in raw materials and products development in Nigeria.
Declaring the event open, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to boosting the country’s global competitiveness in raw materials and product development. He emphasised the importance of developing Nigeria’s abundant raw materials into high-quality products.
Speaking at the conference, Dr. Justin Beshel aligned with Chief Nnaji that although Nigeria has an abundance of raw materials, including solids, metals, energy minerals, and agro-raw materials, having these resources by itself does not ensure economic success. He stated that converting raw materials into high-quality products is both a tactical and necessary requirement for national development and global competitiveness.
The Honourable Commissioner, as a crucial stakeholder who co-chaired the subcommittee on research and development, underlined the necessity of domesticating the Council’s decision throughout the federation and setting up State and Zonal offices to oversee its execution. Cross River State was in the spotlight for pursuing partnerships in bee farming technology, cassava product technology, and a toxicological centre.
The purpose of the conference, which drew attendees from a variety of fields including academia, development partners, civil society organisations, ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), organised private sector (OPS), and the media, was to talk about crucial topics about the effective execution of the National Strategy.
