THE Federal Government has called on World Bank to establish a Science and Technology Fund for the development of science and technology sector.
Prof. Abubakar Ka’oje Mohammed, the Minister of Science and Technology, made the call when a World Bank delegation, led by the STEP B Project National Coordinator, Prof Michael Adikwu, visited him in Abuja.
He said the fund would provide financial succour to Nigerian scientists and researchers, adding that efforts should be made to ensure that funds are accessed through competitive bidding
Abubakar commended the World Bank for what it had done so far in the ministry, and urged agencies to properly utilise and monitor grants disbursed to them.
He urged the bank to embark on Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) of the projects.
“If you disburse money to schools, you should be able to find out how many PhD holders have been produced,” he noted.
The minister promised to assist the bank to ensure that monies given to his ministry and its agencies are judiciously spent.
