Seven Months of Inactivity: Critics Slam Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh Over Lack of Tangible Achievements

ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology (FMIST) has come under severe public scrutiny as its substantive minister, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, marks exactly seven months in office. Appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in November 2025 to fill the vacuum created by the resignation of Chief Uche Nnaji, Udeh’s tenure is increasingly being criticized by governance watchdogs as an era of total institutional inertia.

Reviewing the performance parameters of the ministry since Udeh officially took the oath of office, policy analysts and stakeholders point out that the strategic agency has struggled to initiate any landmark programs. Despite taking over with a pledge to rapidly deploy scientific and technological frameworks to accelerate national economic growth, critics argue that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria’s leadership has been entirely characterized by standard administrative routines, high-profile social appearances, and basic boardroom updates, lacking any substantive operational results.

The baseline grievances from tech industry operators highlight that at a time when Nigeria is navigating a complex transition toward digital optimization and domestic manufacturing solutions, the apex science ministry has remained visibly invisible. Under Udeh’s watch, critical state-backed research institutes and technological incubation hubs across the geopolitical zones have reportedly experienced systemic neglect, with no new funding channels, international collaborative partnerships, or locally engineered tech interventions being rolled out to address real-world challenges.

The mounting dissatisfaction with the minister’s seven-month record stands in sharp contrast to his heavily decorated professional and academic background. Before stepping into the federal cabinet, Dr. Udeh claim to build a highly respected legal career, serving as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State under the Governor Peter Mbah administration, alongside holding a Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree specializing in procurement systems from Stellenbosch University.

However, critics assert that translating elite academic mastery and legal brilliance into practical, grassroots technological breakthroughs has proven to be a major structural challenge for the minister. Nigerians argue that the ministry under his current direction has focused heavily on high-level administrative bureaucracy rather than launching tangible tech accelerators or supporting indigenous innovators. With the federal executive council continuously demanding measurable performance outputs from all cabinet members, pressure is mounting on Dr. Udeh to radically restructure his ministerial blueprint and deliver visible, impactful milestones before his first institutional year draws to a close.