Nigeria’s Minister of Science Innovation, and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, has said that gender equality and empowerment of women and girls are critical to the socio-economic development of the country.

Chief Nnaji who was represented by the Director Science, Technology and Promotion, (STP) Ronald Ukpong, said this at a one-day sensitization programme on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) with the theme: “Unleashing Potentials: Empowering the Girl Child for a secured Future” held by the Ministry on Monday, in Abuja.

Nnaji lamented that women especially in Africa were not recognize in the development of the society which resulted in stereotyping them as well as not utilizing their potentials in proffering solutions to societal challenges.

To this end, the Ministry in recognition of the role played by women in development of Innovation, Science and Technology sector, seeks to develop the capacity of women especially through mainstreaming them into human capital development, agriculture, industrial growth and banking and finance amongst others.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Mr. James Sule, who was represented by his Special Assistant Mrs. Aisha Mohammed Bello, said that the Federal Government in its quest to develop the country Technologically has established many Federal Universities of Science and Technology with the aim of improving the teaching in career areas of STEM education.

Speaking, the Director FCT Department of Innovation Science and Technology Mr. Olobashola Kolawole who was represented by Mrs. Nkechi Nwachukwu ,Director Technology, Acquisition and Promotion said that one of the greatest tragedies in life is to watch potentials die untapped, adding that every one is equipped with abilities, talents and gifts.