NAS convened 3rd Annual Scientific Conference

The Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) convened its 3rd Annual Scientific Conference in Abuja on the 25th and 26th of January, 2022. The conference was themed Science and Technology Innovations for National Growth and Development. The President of NAS, Professor Ekanem Braide FAS, in her welcome address said the conference is not for the academia only, but is a gathering of various stakeholders for conversations on how obstacles to sustainable national development can be removed through the application of science, technology and innovation.

Each session of the conference featured a lead presentation by an expert on the respective sub-theme, followed by oral and poster presentations of original research. The conference subthemes were:

  • The Internet Revolution and Nigeria: Innovation Start-ups as Engine for Youth Creativity and Economic Revolution
  • Strategies for Sustainable Energy Transition in Nigeria
  • Drug and Vaccine Development, Phytomedicine, and Phytotherapy
  • Climate Change, Environmental Conservation, and Pollution Control
  • Food Security, Safety, and Sustainability
  • Science and Innovation in National Security Management
  • Uncovering the Talents in Innovation in Nigerian Universities

Goodwill messages were delivered from the TY Danjuma Foundation, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and the Federal Ministry of Health. Also, Prof. M. S. Haruna, the Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) delivered a keynote address on the first day. He pointed out that the STI (science, technology, and innovation) status of a country would always determine its classification as developed, developing, or under-developed.

Also in attendance to deliver a keynote address on the second day was Mr. Godwin Benson (Founder/CEO, Tuteria). In his keynote address, titled The Internet of Things (IoT) – Formulating the Strategies for Infrastructure Growth in Nigeria, he stated that, globally, IoT market size is expected to reach $561.0 billion this year growing at 26.9% with more than 50 billion connected devices. He mentioned some challenges that need to be addressed to pave the way for widespread adoption of IoT technology in Nigeria. Some of them are limited technological background, poor power supply, cultural resistance, and government policies.

The conference hosted exhibitions of products and services from the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, TY Danjuma Foundation, Nigerian Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), and The Conversation Africa.