Buhari remains committed to ending poverty in the country — Onu disclosed

Not that Nigerians are unaware of the current government’s numerous failed promises since 2015, but it seems there's something about Buhari’s resolve to pull 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.



The President, his vice and cabinet members have on several occasions, reiterate the commitment of the Buhari administration toward ridding the country of poverty.

The latest person to remind Nigerians of Buhari's commitment, is Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. The minister who spoke during a one-day working visit to Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu on Friday, said the Federal Government is putting the necessary measures in place to achieve its target of moving 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.


He, however, said that for the country to effectively achieve the goal, research institutes in Nigeria must take advantage of the abundant natural resources in the country to innovate, create jobs and wealth.

He said that the 16 agencies in the ministry were central to the achievement of the presidential declaration of ensuring that Nigerians had a greater future within the next 10 years.




Onu said that PRODA was a very important research institute that needed to take the lead in the job creation and diversification mantra of the current administration.


The minister said that though he was satisfied with the progress so far made by PRODA in the last four years, “you need to further demonstrate that PRODA is not dead.

“You may not have all the resources but you must show that you can work,” he said.



On the proposed pencil production plant in the institute, the minister said that the desire of the Federal Government was to see that the raw materials for the production of all the components of the pencil were sourced locally.

“We have graphite, wood and clay in abundance. PRODA should be able to do the beneficiation of these raw materials,” he said.


He said that the multiplier effect of sourcing the raw materials locally would be invaluable as millions of Nigerians would be gainfully employed along the pencil production value chain.

“I want PRODA to work harder because you have a very good history. Pay attention to energy storage and develop the expertise,” Onu said.