By Saheed Ibrahim

A former Minister of Science, Technology, and Power, Professor Bart Nnaji has called on Nigeria to prioritise Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education as a catalyst for national development.

Nnaji made the call while announcing plans to establish a new institute focused on robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), which aims to advance the study of intelligent machine technologies, autonomous systems design, and the development of AI algorithms with minimal human intervention.

Drawing a comparison with Vietnam, which produces about 90,000 STEM graduates annually, the chairman of Geometric Power Group emphasised the importance of nurturing a skilled workforce in Nigeria to boost its technological competitiveness.

He urged the government to foster an environment that attracts global tech companies by developing homegrown talent in STEM fields.

Nnaji highlighted the economic potential of investing in technology by pointing to the recent success of Nvidia, which posted profits of $15.3 billion last quarter alone.

He contrasted this with Nigeria’s annual earnings of $25 billion from crude oil, arguing that a focus on technology could provide a more sustainable and lucrative economic future.

Additionally, Nnaji recommended enhancing Nigeria’s academic offerings, particularly in economics and management, to better equip the country for global competitiveness.