Ministry, Kano State Partner On Fertiliser Plant Establishment

Dr. Ogbonaya Onu

The Ministry of Science and Technology has made a commitment to partner with the Kano state government to establish a Neem fertiliser plant with the aim of boosting food security and economic advancement.Under this partnership, the ministry will through one of its agencies, offer technical support for the state government.Already, the minister, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu expressed appreciation for the tremendous work the state government is doing in leather production.At a meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Kano state Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation and Chairperson Action Committee for the establishment of Neem Fertilizer processing plant, Hajija BilkisuWaziri in Abuja, the minister pledged the ministry’s support in the area of fertiliser processing.

According to him, the ministry will also like to work with other state governments in this area so that the nation can be better for it.He noted that it is better for the nation to take advantage of science and technology to develop the nation’s resources rather than use them only in the raw form.

“We don’t determine the prices of these resources but with science and technology, we can innovate and move into knowledge-based economy”, he said.He urged the state government to establish an independent ministry of science and technology, adding that with a University of Science and Technology already in place, research will be promoted; and this will result in job creation.

“I am sure by the time you do more research we will be able to utilize that very important economic tree to meet many of the needs of our people in kano, Nigeria and beyond. We want to assure you that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology will give you every support to realize this” the minister pledged.

Earlier, Hajiya Bilkisu Waziri had sought the minister’s blessings, advice and assistance for the actualization of the pilot Neem fertilizer plant in Kano.She also solicited for the assistance of the ministry to facilitate the intervention of development partners in promoting, science, technology and innovation.