By Helen Oji
Abuja
Nigerian Academy of Science has emphasized the need to redirect research for national development by ensuring that research carried out addresses existing problems in Nigeria.
The President of Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof. Ekanem Braide disclose this on Monday during a stakeholders workshop in Abuja, with the theme: “Strengthening Research Capacity in Nigeria.”
According to her, there are some fundamental challenges other than funding that needs to be addressed. Inadequate research capacity, poor quality of research to national development should be addressed alongside funding.
Prof. Braide said, change will come when all stakeholders particularly government realized that research can make significant difference in Nigeria’s development.
“It is our belief that a healthy collaboration between researchers, government and industry will cost this change to happen.
Research translation is the key in these workshop, and which is bridging gaps between knowledge gained through research and it’s application in policy and problem solving in Nigeria,” she stressed.
Acting President, African University of Science and Technology Prof. Azikiwe Peter Onwualu said Nigeria’s underdevelopment can largely be attributed to the weak research and innovation ecosystem and so does not impact positively on the productive sector of the economy.
He explained that the situation will change if the existing research and innovation ecosystem is strengthened.
Also speaking, Prof. Akinyinka Omigbodun University of Ibadan, stated that institutions can only be strong If they are able to retain the human resources to drive growth.
Prof. Omigbodun stressed that societies that do not develop their intellectual capital are doomed to underdevelopment and exploitation.
He said brain drain is the migration of intellectuals and other talented and skilled human resources to other locations and vocations where theirs skills and expertise were not originally intended for use.
