Onu Challenges Scientists to Shift from Primordial Sentiments of R&D for Learning to Innovation
Adedayo Akinwale
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has challenged Nigerian scientists to brave the odds and make the paradigm shift from primordial sentiments of Research and Development (R and D) for academics to innovation and attainment of sustainable industrial revolution.
The minister who was represented by the Director of Bioresource, Abayomi Oguntunde, made the call yesterday in Abuja at the maiden National Strategy on Competitiveness in Raw Materials and Product Development in Nigeria, organised by the Strategy Implementation Task unit of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMDC).
He said the gathering of the topmost echelon of scientists and researchers in Nigeria was the first of its kind in providing veritable means of galvanising the R and D community towards successful strategy implementation.
According to him, “This forum will offer time refreshment on the ideas, focus and expectation of individual R and D institution during this period of implementation. Your roles and responsibilities are enormous especially on the need for you to refocus your R and D programmes, efforts and resources towards industry-demand driven characterisations.
He added that “the strategy provides ample knowledge on raw materials and products characterisation where individual institutions must focus attention and which industrial sector, industrialists and entrepreneurs you should be relating with.”
The minister urged the scientists and researchers to get their institutions and industries or businesses out of silos and establish a lasting mutual strategic alliance, stressing that such alliances are serious marriages based on the testaments of fortified National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) most suitable for specific intervention to achieve quality products and even services.
According to him, “I am using this strategy to challenge you to brave the odds and make the paradigm shift from primordial sentiments of R and D for academics/learning rather than R and D for innovation, competitiveness and attainment of sustainable industrial revolution.
“I have implicit confidence in your collective capacity to deliver this strategy and usher the country into a new era where science and technology define new industrial revolution required to reposition Nigeria among the league of global competitiveness.”