Board Urges Nigerian Experts To boost National Research Productivity
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has urged Nigerian experts and indigenous professionals on the utilisation of local content to boost research productivity for national growth.
Omomehin Ajimijaye, NCDMB General Manager, Research, Statistics and Development, said this on Wednesday at a three-day Research and Development Workshop and Training of Research Directors on Writing and Winning Research Proposal.
The workshop with the theme “Research and Development as a Spring Board and Catalyst to Stimulate Regional Development in Nigeria’’ was organised by NCDMB in Sokoto.
Ajimijaye said the workshop was geared toward stimulating and leverage on the outcome of local contents through utilising indigenous professionals who were vast and won research proposals.
According to him, NCDMB has intensified efforts to establish linkages and mentorships among Nigerian professionals in order to harness individual and group potentialities in area of research and development framework.
The general manager described the efforts as critical to the nation’s economy, scholarships, security, technological advancement and social well-being of the citizens.
He added that the programme was initiated in recognition of the gaps existed in the research and development in the country.
“We realised that some Nigerian researchers and inventors lacked ability and skills to package their work in such a way to win grants, attract funding or access sponsorships.
“Board was using Research and Development (R&D) to drive growth of Nigerian Content through the established centres of excellence located in each of the geopolitical zones.
“The board had set aside funds for R&D and has established R&D Centres of excellence in five universities across Nigeria.’’
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The general manager urged Nigerian researchers to draw from the fund. He said that the board would continue to facilitate the acceptance of products of indigenous researcher and developer that met industry standards, as part of its efforts to develop and enhance local capacity.
“We at NCDMB give them that assurance that if you are able to do your research, and develop your products, that will help the industry, we will push your products to be used in the industry and given right of first refusal,” he said.
He said as part of NCDMB efforts, Nigeria was already exporting products used outside the country. He listed the challenges facing research and development to include, skills gap, infrastructure gaps, access to data, policy gaps, research and development culture
Earlier, Prof. Mahmud Garba, the Executive Director of National Energy Research Center, Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto, described the event as landmark achievement towards enhancing local contents on research, innovation and development.
Participants were drawn from universities and other higher institutions in the North-west states while resource persons included Prof. Tijjani Isa, Prof. Abdullahi Danladi and Mr Nasir Hashim.
Topics were Innovative on Oil Field Chemical Development, Innovation on Hardware Development, Aligning Research Proposals to Industry and Society Needs, Analytic of Grant Winning Proposals and Establishing Research Team.
NAN/Chidimma Gold
