Research and technological innovations are key ingredients of national development which are reflected as vital indices of the country’s economic vitality and overall wellbeing. Successful nations are able to make this important connection in the research and development nexus. And since scientific research can take number of years to complete, funding from the government greatly affects scientific research.
During this time period lot of financial support is required as there might be lot of expensive chemicals or substances that the scientist or institution requires to sustain the research.
So, for an individual or even an academic institution, it is not possible to continue ongoing research without any institutional endowment and/or outside financial support.
The realisation of this necessary fact apparently caused President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to take full inventory of all indigenous inventions and innovations for possible financial assistance.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, on July 16, Maryam Zakari, Press Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology made the disclosure in a statement in Abuja which indicates a new awakening in the disposition of government to significantly improve funding and support for research and scientific innovation.
Furthermore, NAN reported that Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi, Minister of State for Science and Technology, disclosed this when he received a young Nigerian Inventor, Mr. Usman Dalhatu, in his office on July 16, in Abuja.
”President Buhari had also directed the Committee to identify credible research products with potentials to impact all areas of national life.
“Usman Dalhatu came to display to the Minister his inventions- medical ventilators and sweeping machine,’’ the statement read.
Abdullahi assured the young innovator of the support of the ministry and directed the agencies to broker a partnership with the young inventor so as to make his products globally competitive for exportation.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Usman Dalatu, said his inventions were environmentally friendly, cost-effective, elastic and could be powered by solar energy.
“ The ventilators can also be used in ambulances, armoured tanks,’’ he said.
Dalatu had called on the Federal Government to assist in patronizing and promoting his products.
He said the products had gone through clinical trials for one week in Gombe, he added.
The West African Pilot News investigation during this COVID-19 pandemic, finds that many research institutions and scientists have similarly called on the federal government for financial assistant. The government can provide funding for better labs and other resources like good equipment, procurement of costly or rarely available chemicals or compounds, many of which have to be sourced from outside the country.
From all indications, there are so many diseases for whom there are no medicines. So, with the help of government funding, lots of other medicines can be discovered for the benefit of people and development of a nation like Nigeria.
And as laudable as this new pronouncement from the government is, time will tell if it will turn out to be the spur Nigeria has been waiting for or another disappointment in a long list of failed promises.
