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- pledges administration’s commitment to fostering science and development
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has committed to the establishment of National Research Fund to serve as a mainstay for development in Nigeria as part of his administration’s commitment to fostering science and development in the country.
He made the commitment Thursday, after his investiture as the Grand Patron of Science of the Nigerian Academy of Science at the Council Chambers of the State House.
President Tinubu who expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasised the critical role that science plays in shaping the future of the nation.
Tinubu affirmed that without transformative research and development, no nation will develop to achieve it desire.
“I believe without great research and development no nation can develop to achieve a desire.”
Tinubu assured that his administration will give direct support to research and development in country through government policies, programmes and ministries of science and technology.
He said: “Paying attention to research, science and development is a commitment that I will continue to support directly and through various government policies and programmes through the ministries of science and technology, health, education and related Ministries will be mobilized.
“And in the role of the National Academy of Science and funding for research, science and development, I am fully committed” he added.
The President in his appreciation of the gesture of the Academy of Science for decorating him as its grand patron, said: “I have of a sense of gratitude accepted your gesture of investiture as grand patron of science.”
The President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Ekanem Braide, in conferring the title of Grand Patron, acknowledged the President’s unwavering support for scientific research, education, and technological advancements.
In her remarks, the President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Ekanem Braide noted that for national problems to be conclusively addressed in the country, there is need for healthy collaboration between the centers, the government, industries and the community.
She said that there will be effective research translation via this means as research output from laboratories and workshops will form policies and practices.
“For National problems to be conclusively addressed there is a need for healthy collaboration between the centres, government, industries and community in a quadruple helix arrangement, this way there will be effective research translation, that is the movt of research output from the laboratories, workshops to inform policies and practice.”
Braide applauded Tinubu’s administration for recognising the need for Nigeria to move towards knowledge based economy, disclosing that the academy was currently working with the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning on the review of documents that would aid urgent interventions for national development.
“We commend the administration of President Tinubu for truly recognising the need for Nigeria to move towards knowledge based economy, we are reviewing national planning document through the Ministry of Budget and Economic planning and we are advising necessary interventions required urgently for national development
“We have been informed that the President had directed that steps be taken to set up National research fund”, she added.
The President of the Academy of Science also called for collaboration between centers thereby deploying, science, technology and innovation to tackle major socio-economic problems facing Nigeria.
“There is a need for healthy collaboration between centres, Nigeria like many African countries is plaqued by a number of major problems that negatively impact on socio-economic development of the country most of these problems can be addressed through the application of science technology and innovation.
Braide said that it is the believe of the Nigeria Academy of Science that the 263 universities, 84 polytechnics and 205 Colleges of Education, will upscale to community services in the host communities of the institutions that will impact and result to economic sustainable development of Nigeria.
“It is our believe that the 263, universities 84 polytechnics, 205 Colleges of Education there will be upscale of community services in their host communities, positive impact and sustainable economic recovery and development in Nigeria will be achieved faster”
Others in the delegation that decorated President Tinubu included Vice President Nigerian Academy of Science, Abubakar Sambo, Plague Farombu among others.
In attendance were, the Registrar of the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Funds, Sonny Echono, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede.
Others were: Ministers of Health, Ali Pate, Education, Tahir Mamman, Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Bagudu among others.
