Kaduna State government has denied hiring a negotiator for the kidnappers of over 200 students in Kuriga town of Chikun local government area of Kaduna State who were abducted penultimate Thursday. A national daily ( Not Daily Sun) had reported that the state government had hired a negotiator to ensure safe return of the kidnapped victims.

But in a swift reaction through a press statement on Saturday, governor Uba Sani’s Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Lawal Shehu described the publication as an outright false and mischievous report.

“The attention of the Kaduna State Government has been drawn to an outrightly mischievous and false report in a national daily of 9th March 2024 stating that the Kaduna State Government has hired a private negotiator to facilitate the safe return of school children abducted in Kuriga community, Chikun Local Government of Kaduna State. “We wish to state categorically that the Kaduna State Government did not hire any private negotiator, neither are we contemplating make such a move. The hiring of a private negotiator only exists in the fertile imagination of the reporter. The Kaduna State Government has a clear policy on non-negotiation with terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.

“We urge members of the press to be cautious in the way they craft and publicise their stories on security in order not to jeopardize the efforts of Government and security agencies in degrading criminal elements laying siege to our communities.

“If the said national daily Newspaper had made efforts to contact the Kaduna State Government, they would have gotten the correct information. The press are our partners in progress. Our doors are always open”. The statement said.

END.
[3/9, 11:05 AM] Sunnewsonline: Industrialization, technology bedrock of national development,says chief Nnaji

From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji has stated that industrialization and Technology is the bed rock of any nation and without it no nation can develop meaningful Chief Nnaji made this known during an official tour to the Technology Incubation Centre, TIC, in Agege, Lagos state.

The Minister who promised the Federal Government readiness to support industrialists and entrepreneurs in achieving their goals lauded the National Board For Technology Incubation, (NBTI) for churning out thousands of industrialists over the years.

“I am seeing some industrialists being incubated in this place and from here they move to their own business, they have churned out millionaires” the Minister added.

“Under the renewed hope agenda President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we as ministers are eager to move and this is why we are moving up, he said more has to be done in every quarter and jobs have to be created,” he said.

He explained that the federal government plans to establish a Research and Development Fund where SME owners can leverage on.

“Before we didn’t have a Research and Development Fund but we are at the verge of creating it where people that have excelled in innovation, technology can push their hands and take funds to develop what they have researched,” he said. Earlier, the Director General National Board For Technology Incubation, NBTI, Dr. Patricia Chukwu who stressed that technology is the key to unlocking solutions to some of the most pressing issues of the country commended the support of the Ministry.

“It is undeniable that in the swiftly changing landscape of today’s world, progress heavily relies on technological advancements. Whether in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, biotechnology, or blockchain, the potential is boundless. Yet, to actualize these opportunities fully, we must adopt a culture that champions innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship,” she said.

Dr. Chukwu who called for more support of the ministry to fully maximise the potentials embedded in the agencies, added that the NBTI focuses on identifying and providing support for local talents, nurturing the upcoming generation of innovators and entrepreneurs who will steer the country’s technological progress.

“Like Oliver Twist, we crave more increased funding to support the commercialization of numerous research projects that are ready for commercial exploitation and are currently lying on the shelves of various research institutes throughout the Country” She stated.

“We are confident that by working together with all involved parties, we can close the divide between research and the market, stimulating innovation, generating employment opportunities, and spurring economic growth,” she stressed.

THE SUN