The Nigerian Academy of Sciences (NAS) has called on the Federal Government to expedite the establishment of the National Research Foundation(NRF) to support Research and Development (R&D).
NAS President, Prof. Abubakar Sambo, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, said that the foundation’s creation would help address some of the challenges faced by scientists in the country.
Highlighting the academy’s role in advancing R&D, Sambo noted that, given the wealth of scientific talent in Nigeria, the Science, Technology, and Innovation ecosystem should be a key pillar of national development.
“ The major challenges faced by Nigerian scientists include inadequate research facilities and funding, and inadequate participation in conferences to exchange ideas nationally and internationally.
“We also have the challenge of absence of effective research coordination in the country and low level of commercialisation of scientific research and development outputs.
“NAS is also working with the federal government to establish the NRF that will surely be a game-changer in supporting scientific research in Nigeria.
“Some of the challenges would largely be attended to by the NRF which is under consideration by the federal government,’’ he said.
Other ways of addressing the challenges faced by scientists, he said, included holding regular fora where scientists, government and industrialists collaborate for a common goal.
Sambo said such meetings would showcase research outputs from research institutions, whereby industrialists and investors could pick the research outputs for possible commercialisation.
He also mentioned that the academy would always have election of scientists inducted into their fellowship which would stimulate and encourage the pursuit of quality scientific research.
The president added that the academy had strategic plans with 2028 as the target year and they were following the plan and intensifying efforts to develop aspect of the plan.
“We will also intensify efforts to increase the visibility through enhanced periodic outings, respond to the serious groups seeking partnerships with the academy.’’
Abubakar said the NAS was committed to promoting the use of science for policy making and invited all interested parties to partner with the academy on the endeavour.(NAN)
