By Ken Afor
Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Friday, advised leaders at the G77+China Leaders’ Summit in Cuba to shun geopolitical tensions which have in recent years hindered growth among the developing countries.
While addressing an assembly of Heads of State and Government, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Antonio Gutteres and delegates from over 100 countries from the global South, Shettima hinted on the need for continued partnership among countries.
“We must not allow geopolitical tensions in any corner of the world to deter us from forging a collective and mutually advantageous path forward – a roadmap of shared prosperity and progress,” he was quoted saying in a statement by Olusola Abiola, Director of Information, Office of the Vice President.
The Vice President reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the development of science and technology underlying the need for partnerships with members of the G77+China.
He assured leaders that the country will be a force to be reckoned with using science and technological innovation to birth economic solutions.
According to him “allow me to reiterate Nigeria’s commitment to partnering with our fellow member nations of the G77 and China.
“We shall champion initiatives that harness the potential of science, technology, and innovation to confront economic challenges, particularly within the global south.”
Speaking to the theme: “Current Development Challenges: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation” the vice president told his audience that nations have been able to transit from the different phases of revolutions through the methodical approach.
“Throughout history, science and technology have shaped the course of nations. The phases of the Industrial Revolution, from the first to the fourth, and from mechanization to automation, have determined the prosperity of those nations.
“It is crucial to acknowledge that the developing world found itself at a disadvantage in the earliest phases of these transformations, struggling to compete fairly as these revolutions swept across the globe.”
On Nigeria’s contribution, the vice president said the country is contributing its own share in leveraging science, technology and innovation to resolve challenges such as Covid-19 and the climate crisis.
He explained that Nigeria “understands that the key to advancing innovation in science and technology lies in fostering a vibrant knowledge economy and facilitating the unrestricted exchange of ideas.”
This, the Vice President said, is the reason why “across the globe, one would be hard-pressed to identify a premier institution, even within the most developed nations, where a Nigerian, trained at home, is not contributing significantly, whether as a tech innovator or a medical specialist, in the noble pursuit of improving the human condition.”
On the efforts of the federal government to combat Covid-19 in Nigeria using science and technology, the Vice President said, “the COVID-19 pandemic, while a tragic chapter, served as a catalyst for our brilliant minds in Nigeria to rejuvenate their pursuits in the fields of science and technology.”
He added “Our scientists have successfully positioned our nation as a prominent global hub for mRNA vaccine production, a milestone currently in progress.”
He lauded the contributions of the youth in playing a pivotal role as the nation thrives in the advancement of science, tech and innovation.
According to him, “Nigeria’s demographic advantage is not limited to the absence of an aging population. Nigeria stands as a beacon of youthful talent and innovation.
“These young citizens are not only dedicated to integrating human elements into the evolving technological sphere, but their efforts also extend to diverse fields, ranging from telemedicine to the automation of agriculture, all with the aim of making our daily lives more seamless.”
Weighing in on the climate crisis, VP opined that “the climate crisis around the globe too has dominated our agenda, prompting our youthful innovators to engage in crafting solutions.
“This fervent commitment has resulted in the establishment of start-ups like the Climate Action Africa (CMA) Labs, a hub dedicated to addressing diverse challenges posed by climate change, including severe droughts, flooding, and the escalating agricultural complexities.”
Stressing on the imperative of global partnership, vice president Shettima warned that “the stakes are high. If we fail to act now, the prevailing trend could imperil our attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
Earlier In his welcome speech at the opening ceremony, the President of Cuba and Chair of G77+China, Miguel Diaz-Canel lamented the precarious situations faced by developing countries who are member-states.
He noted that science, technology and innovation have only benefited developed countries while the global South is largely still facing very serious development challenges; the President therefore called for collective wisdom to address the challenges.
The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Gutteres in his brief remarks also noted the development problems confronting developing countries and promised the UN system will continue to work the G77+China to proffer solutions to these challenges
