The Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology has launched the innovations in Science, Technology, Engineering and Policy (iSTEP) Progamme as part of the Nigerian government’s steps towards empowering the youth for innovation and fast-tracking the nation’s digital economic transformation.
The Programme was launched on Wednesday with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and Humanity Advancement Innovation Network (HAIN) in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Hon. Uche Nnaji, explained that the iSTEP Programme would provide training and certification for at least 10,000 youth innovators across the geopolitical zones within the next two years.
According to him, the programme aligns with the present administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially in areas of employment generation, diversification of the economy and inclusive development of the country.
Nnaji said that one of the main goals of the iSTEP Programme remained the fostering of 2,500 youth-led innovative enterprises that are expected to contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and competitiveness in the global economic space, and create at least 5,000 jobs to reduce the unemployment rate.
The minister disclosed that by its design, the iSTEP Programme would help in developing six Innovation Academies and three iSTECH City Hubs, which will serve as hubs of excellence in innovation and technology to provide resources and support for young innovators in the country.
He pointed out that the hubs would play a critical role in fostering innovation in key sectors of the economy, including agriculture, energy, and manufacturing, stressing that a key objective of the programme is to ensure food security through green innovation and by so doing, address the current challenges of hunger in the country.
The minister further clarified: “This programme underscores our collective commitment to leveraging innovation and technology to address challenges in key sectors such as agriculture, energy, and industrial development.”
In his remarks at the event, Chairman of HAIN, Daniel Olasetemi, commended the Federal Government for initiating the iSTEP Programme, describing the potential benefits as unquantifiable as it promises to bring positive transformation to the nation’s digital economy and sustainable development of the country.