Orasanye report negates R & D agencies in Nigeria –Amana

          The ripples generated by the recent Orasanye’s Report to the federal government may not have settled as the immediate past president of the Nigeria Academy of Engineers (NAE), Dr. Edet Amana, has said that some of the recommendations contained in the report negates advancement of research and development (R & D).

In his last speech to the assembly at the President’s Technology Evening Dinner organized by NAE in Lagos, Dr. Amana noted that the recent report of the Presidential Committee on the restructuring and rationalization of Federal Government parastatals, commissions and agencies had recommended downsizing of some of the Research and Development (R & D) agencies, the merger of some and the transfer of some to executive ministries where they will lose their research focus, has the tendency to work against their original mandate of establishment.

The report, he noted, recommended the establishment of a National Research Development Fund as a single point for accessing research funding for all research institutions, saying the recommendation is bereft of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) best policies.

He lamented, saying the report focused on the bottom line of current productivity and did not take into account the government Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy drive.

The objectives of this much heralded policy of government, Dr. Amana pointed out, “include the creation of mechanisms to promote, commercialize and diffuse local technologies for industrial development, as well as developing capability in STI across all sectors to promote global competitiveness. The STI policy prescribes a funding mechanism that involves the government, the organized private sector and international development partners.

“It also calls for an annual budgetary allocation to science and technology activities of at least 2.0 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) over the next five years, followed by “a gradual increase to 2.5 per cent in the next ten years.”

He maintained that the Orasanye Committee was not aware of the above Government STI Policy, hence adopting the recommendations of that committee as it affects R&D agencies for Science and Technology, would tantamount to a policy somersault.

He believes that there is need to strengthen the competitive edge of Nigeria’s economy in the short, medium and long term, stressing that all the technology related R & D agencies should be strengthened and tasked to deliver on their mandates, instead of establishing one omnibus fund for all manner of researches, insisting, it would do damage to R & D in Science and Technology.

 A separate R&D Fund for Science and Technology as provided for in the STI policy will provide the focus needed to promote technology and innovation needed for actualization of Vision 20:20:20,” he proffered.

Dr. Amana buttressed his point by quoting Steve Jobs of Apple Corporation, saying “As individuals, people are inherently good. I have a somewhat more pessimistic view of people in groups. I remain extremely concerned when I see what’s happening in our country which is, in many ways, the luckiest place in the world. We don’t seem to be excited about making our country a better place for our kids.”

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