Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has revealed that former Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu created 900,000 jobs through laudable initiatives he spearheaded that transformed the nation’s scientific landscape.
He also said that the initiatives saved the country over N1 trillion.
Speaker Abbas made the revelation while delivering the first memorial lecture in honour of the late minister who was also former governor of old Abia State in Abuja on Thursday.
Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Speaker Abbas said “As Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Dr. Onu’s contributions are well documented. This appointment allowed him to promote science, technology, and innovation at the highest policy level, leading to several significant achievements.
“For instance, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that he was instrumental to the creation of over nine hundred thousand (900,000) jobs and saved the country over N1trillion through the reduction of imports of raw materials. The policy of National Strategy for Competitiveness in Raw Materials which he initiated significantly improved the ranking of Nigeria according to the 2018-2019 assessment of the World Economic Forum.
“He also introduced the Annual Science and Technology Expo which brings together researchers, innovators, scientists, and entrepreneurs to engage one another. The objective is to stimulate effective mobilization and deployment of research findings for scientific production and commercialization.
“As an astute administrator, he revolutionized the running of the Ministry by introducing regular management meetings and transparency initiatives leading to the Ministry winning the 2019 SERVICOM award for excellence in service delivery. Also, many parastatals under the Ministry of Science won several awards, reflecting the innovations in the Ministry.”
Speaker Abbas further said that during the outbreak of COVID-19, late Onu leveraged the opportunity to innovate and advance home-grown technological and scientific solutions.
“Consequently, under his meticulous guidance, the National Agency for Science Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), invented the first made-in-Nigeria ventilators and disinfectant safety sprayers. To instill innovative knowledge early in our youths, he organized the National Science and Technology competition for secondary schools and young scientists tagged “774 Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award” (774 YONSPA). Through these competitions, young scientists who excelled were granted scholarships to study up to the doctoral level”, he said.
Speaking about Onu’s political journey, Speaker Abbas said that as former Governor of Abia State, Presidential candidate, and Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Onu left an indelible mark.
“Going by the negative characterization of Nigerian politics, it would be right to say that Dr. Onu was too good to be involved in politics. However, he has proved that politics can be good depending on the character of the political players. Dr. Onu brought decorum, decency, and discipline in the manner he played his politics,” the Speaker said.
It will be recalled that in 1991, Onu was elected as the Governor of Abia State under the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC). He was subsequently sworn in on 2nd January 1992.
After a brief stint as Governor, Onu continued to participate in politics at every opportune time while also promoting science and technology.
When politics was fully restored in 1998, Dr. Onu joined the All People’s Party (APP) which later became the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
He was eventually elected as the Presidential Candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP) in 1998 but was convinced to relinquish the ticket to Chief Olu False of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) following the agreement reached for the two parties to go into alliance preparatory to the 1999 general elections.
The Presidency was conceded to Olu Falae, a Yoruba candidate to assuage the South West because of the annulment of the 1993 presidential election widely believed to have been won by the late Chief MKO. Abiola.
In 2011, Onu was elected the National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), a position that enabled him to lead other opposition parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC), a coalition that ultimately won the 2015 Presidential election.
Onu was eventually appointed by President Buhari as the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
“Dr Onu was truly a man of enduring faith, highly principled and contented till his unfortunate demise. He never changed his progressive political ideology even when it was fashionable and attractive to do so. In 2022, he resigned his appointment to contest for the presidency. He protested during the 2022 Presidential Primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he protested when he repeatedly asked: “Where is the Justice.” 21.
“He felt very strongly that the Southeast should have been given a chance to get the ticket. But he never left the party or lost faith in a united Nigeria. Onu believed that if it was the will of God, he would become the President of Nigeria one day. It was not to become as God called him home in His own time, a journey which no one can question, because, we, as Wale Adenuga would say in soap opera, pencils in the hand of God. Nigeria would be doing the wish of Dr. Onu when that justice he craved is restored to this country. This a dream I am optimistic that the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu would bring to fruition”, Speaker Abbas said.