Africa must desist from creating jobs outside its shores – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan, today said that Africa must stop the habit of using its raw materials to create jobs in other countries,  adding that it’s only industrialisation that will get Africa out of the woods.

President Jonathan noted this at the inauguration of  the National Research and Innovation Council, in which he is the chair, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to the President,  the era where Africa, particularly Nigeria, will be creating jobs outside the shores of the continent and the country must stop.

He stressed further  that no country could develop technologically if it continues to rely on primary commodities either in form of raw minerals or agriculture produce.

“I always say that for Africa to get out of the woods, it must industrialise. Without that, you can only be supplying goods and creating jobs outside the country. This must change in Nigeria and Africa,” he said.

The President said the council would serve as the apex governing body of his administration’s science and technology innovation policy.

He said the council was borne out of the belief among stakeholders that there is a missing link between the the nation’s products of tertiary institutions and the need of the society.

He explained that the science technology and innovation programmes would stand as a major link between research and industrialisation.

Jonathan said he expected the council to collaborate with other relevant departments  of government to bring a synergy between research and industrial policy.

The President said,

“You will recall that only last week, we launched the industrial policy of the country and when people talk about the educational policy, they always feel that there is a missing link between the our education, products of universities or tertiary institutions and the need of the society.

“The science technology and innovation programmes will stand as a major link between search and industrialization. There is no country that can develop technologically if it continue to relay on primary commodities either they are raw minerals or  agriculture produce.

“I always say that for Africa to get out of the woods, it must industrialise. Without that, you can only be supplying goods and creating jobs out side the country. This must change in Nigeria and Africa.

“For today, its a remarkable programme, though very simple but we expect that this council will collaborate with other relevant departments  of government to bring a synergy between research and industrial policy.

“The people that compose the council are eminently qualified, who are presiding over departments of government that are critical in our science and technology drive. I’m quite hopeful that at the end of the day, this country will begin to turn to the direction our people expects.

“You will also remember that in a few weeks time, in collaborate with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, we will host a high level policy dialogue to enhance judicious implementation of science technology and innovation policy. The theme of the dialogue is “Science technology and innovation and African transformation agenda: making new technologies work in African transformation”.

President Jonathan expressed his commitment to remain in the frontline for science technology and innovation. “I invite all Nigerians at home and in diaspora to join hands with this administration in this drive of great potentials and viability targeted at making science technology and innovation the basis of our development and knowledge based economy.

“This council must be the pivot for this turn around and needs to  maintain focus in order to sustain the transformation initiative and momentum of this administration”, he said.

Other members of the council are ministers of relevant ministries  and representatives of relevant government agencies as members.