The minister of science and technology, Mrs Grace Ekpiwhre has advocated the use of solar energy which will have positive effect on the economy.
The minister made this remark recently in her office when the managing consultant of the African-Asian investor's management gave a presentation on the benefit of solar energy. She equally said that the solar energy has a pivotal role to play in sourcing for alternative energy supply for Nigeria.

She, however, bemoaned the present cost of solar energy and called for the use of local raw materials in order to bring the high cost down to an affordable rate.
Furthermore, she encouraged the company to collaborate with relevant agencies under the science and technology ministry for the purpose of sourcing for local materials for the production of solar energy components stressing that the issue of alternative sources of electricity generations in the country.

The managing consultant of the African-Asian company, Chief Nwadiora Nwosu, in his brief appealed to the minister to assist its agencies in planning, executing and funding of its solar energy innovation. He said that parastatals like the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) would be useful in the area of local content development and SHETSCO (SHEDA science and technology) will need solar energy to power its gamma radiation facility.
He, however, said that his company has signed a memorandum of understanding with several companies on solar energy and appealed to the ministry for support.

Source: http://allafrica.com  / Vanguard