NAS convenes workshop on Strengthening Research Capacity in Nigeria
The Nigerian Academy of Science convened a stakeholders’ workshop aimed at enhancing scientific
research capacity in Nigeria, as well as facilitate an enabling environment for research and
researchers to thrive. The meeting, which took place on Monday, 15 th of May, 2023 at Reiz
Continental Hotel, Abuja, brought together relevant stakeholders to discuss the existing research
landscape in Nigeria, identify areas of strength, weakness, and opportunities, and especially
challenges in conducting scientific research. The meeting also explored possible means of
addressing identified challenges, viz the roles of academia, policymakers, industry, and other
stakeholders.
The Academy’s President, Professor Ekanem Braide FAS, in her welcome address mentioned that an
improvement in Nigeria’s socio-economic development would come when all stakeholders,
particularly government, realize that research can make a significant difference in Nigeria’s
development. In her opinion, a healthy collaboration between researchers, government, and
industry, in a triple helix arrangement, would cause a change to happen.
In attendance was the Executive Secretary of the African Union Scientific, Technical, and Research
Commission (AU-STRC), Dr. Ahmed Hamdy. He delivered a goodwill message where he reiterated
the AU’s commitment to improving scientific research capacity in Nigeria, and across Africa.
Also in attendance was Professor Azikiwe Peter Onwualu FAS, the Acting President of the African
University of Science and Technology Abuja, who delivered the keynote address. Key messages
from his address were that there is a strong nexus between research and innovation on the one
hand and economic development on the other and that Nigeria’s underdevelopment can largely be
attributed to the fact that the research and innovation ecosystem is weak and so does not impact
positively on the productive sector of the economy. Onwualu recommended that there be strategies
which should include having strong and coordinated institutions, increased funding mechanism,
operationalization of the National Research and Innovation Council, and a functional National
System of Innovation (NSI) based on the triple helix model, and evolving a National Research Policy.
The meeting covered sessions on Brain Drain and Nigeria’s Research Expertise, Crisis Management in
Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, Institutional Governance for Improved Research Capacity, Research
Funding for Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, and Strengthening Partnership and Collaboration. The need for a National Research Policy was discussed as a means to strengthening Nigeria’s national
commitment to improving scientific research capacity during the sessions.
Participants at the workshop include the Academy’s immediate past President who is also the
Project Adviser, Professor Mosto Onuoha FAS, and some other Fellows of the Academy. Also
participating were researchers from universities and research institutions, relevant government
departments and agencies, the private sector, development agencies, and the media. The project is
supported by the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Fund.