Monday day 9th June 2014.
Conference resumed sitting at 09:10 am, presided over by the chairman, votes and proceedings of Thursday were read, amended and adopted.
Announcement:
The deputy chair called on a delegate who announced the death of HRH, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero (CFR) on Friday 6th June 2014 to give a brief history of the late Emir, after which the deputy chairman announced the death of Prof Dora Nkem Akunyili on Saturday 7th June, 2014.
The conference observed a minute silence in honor of the departed souls and resolved to send letters of condolence to the bereaved families as well as the government and people of Kano and Anambra states respectively.
Delegates paid heart touching tributes to the late delegate, Prof Dora - the mood of the house on that day was sober.
Committee began deliberation on the report of the committee on science and technology which was presented on Thursday.
These were some of the additional recommendations made;
- The committee recommended that In order to elevate scientific and technological development in Nigeria, a National Science and Technology Fund should be established by the Federal Government for utilization in science, technology and innovation activities.
It was suggested that the Fund when established would be managed by a Presidential Council for Science, Technology and Innovation including all the Nigerian Academies.
The envisaged Council will render accounts of its operations to the Senate either on annual or periodic basis as would be decided by an enabling law.
- Setting up of viable military industrial complex as obtained in advanced countries of the world to contribute to the development of science and technology in Nigeria.
- In order to empower all registered professional bodies in the building industry to perform their expected roles, Conference called on the National Assembly to urgently pass into law the National Building Code.
A youth delegate suggested the need for the establishment of Abuja National Museum of Science and History to encourage the younger generations in the study of science as well as to encourage research among academics.
I made a comment to the effect that technology has greatly united my generation and we are so united by the click of a button, they should make no mistake about dividing this country - we will use the power of technology to fight them. Again I spoke on the need to encourage young innovators giving them an instance of a friend of mine who does a security surveillance robot, I added that it's unfortunate we import things as mediocre as tooth pick yet we have the best brains that can do amazing things, give them incentives to start up and patronize them.
We then adopted the report of the committee on science and technology as amended.
Modification of Procedure for discussion of committee report;
Conference considered a proposal by the chairman of the conference who solicited for understanding of delegates to modify the procedure for deliberating committee reports. The Chairman explained that the conference has five weeks to conclude its assignment and submit reports to government. He noted that it no longer looks realistic to take over 150 contributions from delegates on each committee report, he therefore suggested that henceforth, chairmen of committees will present their respective reports and any proposed amendment to the report from delegates shall be submitted in writing to the secretariat before 6pm on the day preceding consideration of the report. The amendment will then be presented to the conference for voting - the conference reluctantly adopted the new procedure for discussion of committee’s reports as proposed.
So the next committee in line was the committee on Agric headed by Alhaji Umaru Muhamad Hedija he presented the report on Agriculture and water resources.
On the same day, the Committee on Economy, Trade and Investment under the leadership of Hajiya Bola Shagaya and Mr. Fola Adeola as deputy also presented their report to the Conference.
I will give the recommendations of these committees and additional recommendations by delegates in my next post.
These report would be considered on Tuesday.
Conference adjourned at 5:32 pm to resume on Tuesday 9am.
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