Ibadan Scientists in the Africa continent were on Tuesday asked to identify and work on the needs of their respective societies to make them relevant and enhance the living standard of the citizenry. The President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Oyewale Tomori made this call at the public lecture entitled ‘The Role of Academies of Science in Promoting Research and Development in Africa’. The lecture was organized by the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) at the International Conference Centre, International Institute of Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan. While lamenting Nigeria’s technological failure Tomori said it was only when the scientists identify their societal needs that their relevance could be valued and accorded the necessary recognition. He said part of the reasons why there had been technological failure not only in Nigeria, but across the continent of Africa included non-commercialization, licensed or patented research work/result. Also, the NAS President identified uncoordinated research activities in institutions, non-linkage of research to industries/entrepreneurs, non-target of research to national primary needs and the engagement of researchers in only issues relevant to personal needs and promotion. To redress the situation, the renowned scientist insisted that scientists must be the voice of science for development, build clusters for collaboration, inform and government and industries, market research results and collaborate with other academies. Similarly, Tomori advocated the need for the elightement of the public by scientists, build science centres and museums in towns and cities, work to introduce science into “our education system from the kindergarten level”. In his address, the chief host and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Isaac Folorunso Adewole called on the participants described as ‘the pioneer set of CARTA doctoral trainees’ to expand the contribution of Africa to knowledge generation and train the next generation of African intellectuals. Adewole, a Fellow of the Academy noted that “there has been unprecedented growth in student enrollment and the expansion of training programmes, especially at the undergraduate level in many African nations, including Nigeria and other countries represented in CARTA. “This demands a commensurate expansion in doctoral training in order to meet the human resources needs of the new institutions as well as the existing ones. Africa’s contribution to global scientific output is minuscule and it has further declined over the past decade”, the UI VC said.
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