Ex minister wants FG to approve special fund for research, innovation development
NAN-HE-29
Research
By Kingsley Okoye
Abuja, Dec. 1, 2016 (NAN) A former Minster of Science and Technology, Prof. Turner Isoun, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the creation of a special fund for the development of research and innovation in the country.
Isoun made the call at the Distinguished Research Seminar and International Institute for Training, Research and Economic Development (IITRED) awards in Abuja on Thursday.
He also called on the president to float an executive bill requesting the National Assembly to enact a law to regulate the utilisation of the fund when created.
He said that the creation of the research fund would amount to creating wealth for the nation, noting that wealth creation entailed technology innovation and development.
Isoun said that the development of the economy through agriculture and other sectors was hinged on the quality of research and innovation carried out by Nigerian researchers and scientists.
He said research on science , technology and agriculture was crucial to driving economic potentials in the country.
According to the professor, it is research, innovation that engender development of advanced countries, noting that Nigeria cannot be an exception in developing research and innovation to drive economic growth.
He said the availability of funding for research purpose would engender the discovering of right and application of knowledge for massive development of science technology.
“It is research, innovation that will make a difference, the ICT revolution now contributes significantly to Nigeria’s economic development.“
Isoun explained further that the private sector was at a vintage position to drive research development, noting that research and innovation were individually driven in any part of the world.
He, however, said it was the responsibility of governments all over the world to provide necessary support through funding of the research endeavours.
He said no nation could make progress without the application of research , training and entrepreneurship .
The President of IITRED, Dr Sani Dawop, said the significance of agricultural research and innovation could not be over emphasised.
He said that IITRED was promoting research to develop raw materials needed to promote economic development in the country.
He said that the winning entry of IITRED agricultural research price was a research on production of and packaging of Kenaf in Nigeria .
He said the development of Kenaf (Rama), which when fully commercilised, could save Nigeria N24 billion in foreign exchange.
The former minister said multi-dimensional, institutional and multi-faceted approach was required to effectively drive research innovation and development in Nigeria.
According to him, the right time for Nigeria to move into industrialisation through commercialisation of research was now.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN ) reports that high point of the event was a presentation on the seminar topic “Creating Youth Employment in Nigeria through Agriculture”.
Other highlights of the event include the presentation of award to the 2016 IITRED research winner, Dr Morufat Balogun of the University of Ibadan .
She was selected for the research award for her agricultural research on “Kenaf as source of raw materials for packaging grains and as absorbent material in managing oil spills“.
Other awards went to Dangote Sugar and NASCO foods limited. (NAN)
KC/EAL/IA
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Idris Abdulrahman