The Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Ogbonnya Onu, said on Saturday that skills acquisition training was critical to diversifying Nigeria’s economy.

Onu said this in Jalingo at the graduation of entrepreneurs organised by the Technology Incubation Centre, Jalingo.

According to him, skills acquisition creates jobs, wealth and minimises over dependence on oil revenue.

“President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to diversify our economy by promoting skill acquisition among Nigerians to minimise importation.

“This country cannot be great if we keep on relying on foreign products.

“It is therefore imperative for us to migrate from a resource based economy to knowledge and innovative based economy which is the trend all over the world.”

Onu said the drop in price of crude oil indicated that diversifying Nigeria’s economy was inevitable.

“The massive drop in prices of crude oil is an eye opener that we cannot continue to rely on oil.

“The most important thing is to use our knowledge to acquire skills for productivity because the richest asset is knowledge not property.”

In his response, Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba, said the state would continue to assist the Federal Government in achieving its objective of diversifying the economy and enhancing the country’s productivity rate.

The Deputy Governor, Alhaji Haruna Manu, who represented Ishaku, commended the government for organising the ceremony.

Certificates were presented to seven entrepreneurs who specialised in honey processing, cosmetics, paint production, fabrication of milling machines, among others. (NAN)