Nigerian Scientists Shift Focus to Tackle Issues Within Nigeria
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Loading... - Yemi Alaba
- 31 May 2023
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To enhance Nigeria's research capabilities, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has made a decision to redirect research efforts towards addressing the country's pressing problems. This move aims to contribute to national development by ensuring that research initiatives directly tackle the existing challenges in Nigeria.
During a stakeholders' workshop in Abuja titled "Strengthening Research Capacity in Nigeria," Professor Ekanem Braide, President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, emphasized the need to address fundamental issues beyond funding. Insufficient research capacity and the poor quality of research, alongside funding concerns, must also be resolved in order to foster national development.
Professor Braide expressed her belief that significant change will occur when all stakeholders, particularly the government, recognize the transformative power of research in Nigeria's progress. She highlighted the importance of a collaborative effort between researchers, government bodies, and industries to bring about this change.
"The key focus of this workshop is research translation, which involves bridging the gap between knowledge derived from research and its practical application in policy and real-world issues within Nigeria," Professor Braide explained.
Adding to the discourse, Professor Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, Acting President of the African University of Science and Technology, emphasized that Nigeria's underdevelopment can largely be attributed to the weakness of the research and innovation ecosystem, which fails to positively impact the country's productive sectors.
He suggested that this situation can be rectified by strengthening the existing research and innovation ecosystem, enabling research and innovation to drive the productive sectors and, consequently, lead to overall development.
