The re-established Nasarawa State Ministry of Science and Technology is poised to champion the development of the state through science and technology education.

Acting permanent secretary of the ministry, Mr. Echoda A. Anfofum, stated this in an interview with Nigerian Newsday in Lafia recently.

He said the ministry would promote, encourage and develop traditional medicines that would be of national food administration and drug control (NAFDAC) standard.

According to him, the Keana and Azara salt have seen analysed at a research centre, in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and found to have enough iodized substanre, as such the salt does not encourage growth of goiter as rumoured in some quarters.

Mr. Anfofum said Nasarawa State was only second to Delta State, among the states in the federation that were blessed with solid mineral deposits.

He said the ministry would use scientific means to exploit the deposits for the development of the state.

He said the information technology centre, which is a unit under the ministry would play a crucial role in training all civil servants in the state to be computer literate. "The world is moving fast and Nasarawa State cannot remain behind," he added.

The acting permanent secretary commended the Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma administration for re-establishing the ministry for science and technology, and providing basic necessary infrastructures for its take-off, saying the ministry was making efforts to install internet services in the ministry.

He called on well-spirited individuals to support the ministry to enable it achieves its aim of moving Nasarawa State forward.