Technology: Nigeria, Iran to partner
The Nigerian Government and its Iranian counterpart have expressed their readiness to strengthen partnership, especially in the area of technology.
Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, and the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Morteza Zarchi, made the commitment when Zarchi paid a courtesy visit recently to minister in Abuja.
Onu noted that both countries have had warm relationship, while expressing the country’s desire to consolidate relationship with Iran in the area of technology.
“I must commend you for the good work you have done to promote good relationship between Iran and Nigerian.
I also commend Iran for her commitment in using science and technology for nation building.
“At one of the conferences I attended in Pakistan, your minister of science and technology told us that Iran as of last year, was investing 1.2 per cent of your Gross Domestic Product, GDP, in science and technology.
“There is that decision to even boost allocation of m
ore resources to science and technology, because you understand and appreciate the importance and relevance of science and technology to nation building,’’ the minister said.
The minister also said that Nigeria was also working hard in using science, technology and innovation as tools for nation building and making resources more efficiently to create jobs.
The Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Morteza Zarchi, said that Nigeria and Iran were exploring sources of revenue by diversifying their economies to technology and agriculture, adding that Iranian investors were interested in partnering with Nigeria in the science sector.
