Researches Must Focus On Solving Challenges – Bogoro
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund), Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro, has called on the nation’s academics to embark on research capable of solving the country’s challenges and facilitating the development of the country.
Speaking in Bwari, Abuja, as the Guest Lecturer at the 9th Convocation Ceremony of the Veritas University on Saturday, the TetFund boss said the relevance of science, technology and innovation were keys to realising the development potentials of the country.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Forging partnership in the triple helix model and the drive for the institutionalization of R & D for the sustainability of Nigeria’s knowledge Economy’, Bogoro said for national development to be realised, collaboration between academics and industrialists is imperative.
According to the consummate scholar, “Science, technology and innovation are major drivers of development in this modern world. We cannot attain development without deploying research for growth and development of our nation”.
Prof Bogoro, who was delivering his ninth convocation lecture, declared that the concept of the triple helix model is anchored on bringing academics and industrialists to explore common grounds for collaboration.
He said, “We cannot develop as a nation if our research focus is not tailored towards solving the problems of our country. It is on this note that TetFund has commenced earnest efforts by encouraging researchers to embark on studies that are problem-solving.
“It is because of our lack of deploying research to solve our problems that we find it easier to get yams produced in Ghana on the streets of London than yams produced in Nigeria. We need to deploy research to add value in the preservation and storage capacity of our nation’s yams.”
Reeling out several data in various countries to convince his audience comprising distinguished academics, prominent Nigerians and graduands, among others, on the roles of research for development, the TetFund Executive Secretary said the Fund was working towards the creation of R&D Foundation that is expected to serve as a think tank for encouraging researches through adequate funding to facilitate the industrial revolution of the country.
Prof Bogoro commended the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in its determination to encourage science, technology and innovation as bedrock of development. President Buhari’s positive resolve to focus on research, according to Bogoro, is demonstrated in increasing research grants from N3 billion to N7.5 billion as contained in the 2020 Budget.
“These increments by Mr. President reflect his vision and renewed focus in deploying Knowledge Economy for the development of our country. TetFund has keyed into Mr. President’s vision of harping more on the relevance of research studies by seeking to institutionalize R & D as the basis of evolving development initiatives.
“In Brazil, for instance, an agricultural institute has the same annual budget of TetFund. That is for just one institute alone. If we have increment in research funding, our prospects for development would be enhanced and Nigeria will gain tremendously,” he added.
He said the government alone cannot bear the burden of providing funds for research. The private sector, Prof Bogoro added, must also be engaged to provide funding for research, adding, “That is why TetFund is collaborating with industrialists of repute, including public and private universities, to work towards providing a platform for critical stakeholders in realising the dream of developing our country.
“We cannot allow our youths to fall victims of vices that can be mitigated by research. Our youths in our universities and other tertiary institutions must think of taking advantage of research and develop strategies to develop the potentials of our nation”.
