By Naomi Douglas
Minister of Science and Technology, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, has also declared to slug it out with other aspirants for the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC.
While declaring on Friday in Abuja, the former governor of Abia State said Nigeria can no longer look to foreign countries for its salvation.
Speaking as the Minister of Science and Technology, he insisted that the key to unlock the prosperity of our nation is a knowledge economy driven by science, technology and innovation.
Own prosperity, asking his party and the electorate to elect him as Nigeria’s “Chief Servant .He recalled his days as governor of Abia when the state provided free treatment in public hospitals.
Apart from the health sector, the minister said Abia witnessed development across all sectors of the state.
“As a man of great compassion, and also believing that women are great builders of nations, I did not want any pregnant woman or child to die either during pregnancy or childbirth, which are the most challenging periods in any woman’s life, just because the woman cannot afford to pay hospital bills. Hence, all pregnant women received free treatment in public hospitals,” Onu said.
“I want all Nigerians, particularly the youth to know that Nigeria has a bright future. Let there be nothing that can make any Nigerian lose hope about the future of Nigeria.
“The Almighty God that created us, gave our dear nation, everything that she needs to be a leader in the world. Working together, we will make use of the knowledge economy driven by STI to make Nigeria truly great.
“My fellow Nigerians, we have the key to unlock the prosperity of our dear nation, and this key is a knowledge economy driven by science, technology and innovation.
“This is so, because no nation has ever become truly great, whether in ancient or modern times, without the efficient and effective deployment of science, technology and innovation to nation-building.
I am convinced that I have the knowledge, the experience, the credibility and the education having been trained in one of the best universities in the world, the vision, the integrity, maturity and a man who can be trusted.
“I most respectfully ask my political party, the APC, to elect me as its presidential candidate, and the people of Nigeria to elect me as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for me to be the chief servant of the nation.”
