The Nigerian Academy of Science

The year 2013 was exciting in several ways, as the Academy reached out to an increasing number and a more diversified group of partners in efforts to build relationships for service. Details of national agencies, public and private institutions with which the Academy opened collaborative dialogue with can be found in Section 4 of this report.
 
The Academy was equally active at the international level, with participation in several international meetings, election into boards of the InterAcademy Council (IAC), Inter-Academy Medical Panel’s (IAMP) Executive Committee and Network of African Science Academies (NASAC). In addition, the Academy signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) with several African Academies.

 The induction of new Fellows in the disciplines of pharmacy, food microbiology, engineering, public health, medicine, pharmacology, psychiatry, nutrition and veterinary medicine provided additional professional and academic resources required by the Academy. Selection of Fellows continued to be guided by our core values of merit, pursuit of excellence and commitment to the development of Nigeria through relevant science and appropriately applied technology. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find qualified scientists of sufficient merit for induction in the areas of mathematics and physics.

In 2014, the Academy will engage in providing evidence based commentaries on issues that affect our development as a nation, such as education, health, agricultures, energy and power. Specifically, in the first quarter of 2014, two sub-committees of the Academy will address and provide on such issues as genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and vaccine stuck outs within the first quarter 2014. .

If we must remain the dynamic body capable of responding to changes in the society, then we must modify and reorganize our structure as conditions in the society demand.
In this regard, our current operational systems must change in line with global ICT standards. In addition, each Fellow must remain committed to and involved in Academy activities. This will result in the full utilisation of our high quality and diverse resources for the benefit of our society.

I wish to express appreciation to all Fellows and staff of the Academy, and especially the Council and Academic Secretaries, for the remarkable support I received in 2013. Please let us make 2014, a year of relevant research and scientific significance, focussed on providing evidence based information and advice to public and private sectors, for the long awaited social and technological revolution and renovation of our society.

Oyewale Tomori, FAS

President Nigerian Academy of Science.