Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the Minister of Science and Technology has said efforts were being put in place by the Federal Government to mitigate against Nigerians taking risks through the Sahara desert or the Mediterranean Sea to Europe for a better life.
Tribune reports that Onu while interacting with Team Nigeria” for the forthcoming 2019 International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) in Qatar, said the future of Nigeria is in the hands of young people who are creative, innovative and can help recreate Nigeria for the better.
According to him: “We believe this would help our nation build a future all of us would be very proud of because as I look at you, I am very confident that in future, no Nigerian would take the risk of passing through the Sahara desert or the Mediterranean Sea to go to Europe for better life.
“Instead, people from Europe, America and Asia, would be coming to Nigeria for a better life. That is the future we want and that is the future we want to create.” He stated.
“We are always very happy to see young Nigerians show great interest in science. We are proud of you and we congratulate you that of all Nigerian students within the category of SS2 that you were selected throughout all the secondary schools in the various local government areas in the 36 states including the FCT, out of 12 of you, six would be selected to represent Nigeria at the International Young Science Olympian that would be holding early December this year in Qatar.
“We know that you would do your best for our country. You will bring the gold medal to Nigeria. You must recognize that only the best is good enough for Nigeria. We can no longer do with the second-best so only the best is good enough for our country because we have done so well in the past and we believe that this year, you would do us proud by showing the world that Nigerian students are very good in science subjects.
“We want to start producing locally what we import from other countries so that our youths would have job opportunities as the president has said we would take 100 million Nigerians in 10 years out of poverty and this cannot be achieved if we don’t have students who are determined creative and innovative.
“So we are going to Qatar as ambassadors of Nigeria. Nobody will call you by name, they will know you as Team Nigeria and we are very confident that through you and other young people will develop an interest in science and Technology,” the minister stressed.
