The Federal Government says it had established Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) all over the 36 states.
It said almost all the companies in Niger and some other states owe their origin to the Federal Government’s incubation programmes.
They also said many incubatees that started as start-ups have become SMEs through the government’s incubation processes.
Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), Minister, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said this in Abuja when he hosted the management and workers of A&Shine International.
He said: “We want Nigerians to know that this ministry has made so much contribution in having start-ups. As a matter of fact, we are the home of start-ups in the country. Many of the incubatees that started small as micro businesses; today, many of them have become small and medium-sized businesses all over the country.
“As the Director General of NBTI said, virtually all the companies in Niger State and some other states of the federation owe their origin to this ministry through the incubation process.
“What we do is that we believe strongly that research findings must be converted into products. When we do the findings and discover they can contribute to the economy, we protect the intellectual property through patents. Then, we ensure they are all sent to NBTI, where NBTI brings in people as incubatees and pass on the knowledge to them.
“We have seen that it has been very useful. People who have graduated are doing very well. Today, we have NBTI centres in all the 36 states of the federation. This is the best way to reduce poverty and the best way that STI can be felt by everybody.”
