Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head of Civil Service of the Federation said in Abuja on Wednesday that Nigeria was ready to create job opportunities through its waste-to-wealth programme.
 
Oyo-Ita stated this at inauguration of a Steering Committee for the Implementation of Waste-to-Wealth Programme of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) and Council of Entrepreneurs for Africa (COEFA).
 
According to her, waste generation is closely interrelated with population, urbanization and affluence.
 
`` The main objective of the waste-to- wealth programme is to implement a sustainable end-to–end solution for an Integrated Waste Management System in Nigeria through a well-coordinated national plan, orientation, education and strategy.
 
``Following successful implementation, the system is expected to generate substantial number of direct employment across various sectors, drive the proliferation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
 
``Others are large scale industries across the states as well as improve the health and livelihoods of the people thereby alleviating poverty.’’
Oyo-Ita, represented by Mrs Didi Walson, Director of Special Duties in the Head of Civil Services, said the world and its economy had become highly globalised.
 
She said the major drivers of the phenomenon were the better understanding and utilisation of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).
President of COEFA, Mrs Sandra Iroakazi, maintained that the strength and weakness of any nation were directly related to its technological capabilities and knowledge.
 
According to her, Science and Technology has assisted in virtually all spheres of human endevour, ensuring higher agricultural productivity, better communication, enhanced healthcare delivery, improved quality of life and sustainable livelihoods.
 
``In spite of all the positive attributes of Science and Technology, its development and use have also posed threats and challenges for Nigeria and its peoples, especially when not properly channelled.
 
``These challenges vary from environmental degradation, sustainability development, to peace and security, hence, there is therefore more compelling need than ever before to ensure proper utilisation of appropriate technologies’’, she said.
 
The president said efforts would be towards technology that guarantees sustainable development of Nigeria through accurate and reliable data collection and development, analysis and documentation to fast track productive decision making processes. Acting Permanent Secretary of MFST, Mr Abbas Gummi, said the ministry was widening the scope of collaborations and partnerships with the international community in developing STI to uplift the nation.
 
``In line with the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, the ministry has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Canadian COEFA to execute various technology and innovation-driven programme’’, he added. The MoU was signed on Sept.29.
 
Mr Peter Eweozoh, Director, Environmental Science and Technology in the ministry, said the technology and innovative driven programme would start with the national Waste-to-Wealth programme.
 
``This workshop is the beginning in the series of nationwide capacity building programmes’’, he said.