The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has charged research and innovation agencies in the country on the need to prioritize collaboration in the current collective drive targeted at fast-tracking Nigeria’s sustainable development.
The minister, who gave the charge to the relevant agencies during a media chart at the 2024 TETFUND National Research Fair/Exhibition held at the Eagle Square in Abuja, maintained that synergizing their efforts would ensure that the dividends of democracy are efficiently delivered to Nigerians with the attendant positive implications for the nation’s growth.
Noting that Nigeria is well blessed with abundant institutions, intellectual professionals and natural resources, Alausa pointed out that it had become imperative for researchers and professionals to join forces together for national development based on the challenges the country is contending with over the past few years.
He explained: “At this time of our democratic development, Nigeria is facing several challenges including youth underemployment, poverty effects, insecurity and infrastructure decay, but we believe that the contributions of professionals as will be seen in this National Research Fair will be greatly needed in tackling many of such challenges.
“This synergy will ensure that the dividends of democracy are delivered efficiently and our Research and Innovation institutions that are now scattered in many ministries are well coordinated to be effective”, the minister added.
While recognizing and appreciating the TETFund for its sustained efforts to support researchers in the nation’s tertiary institutions over the years, he assured the TETFund’s management of government’s readiness to continually support the agency with adequate funding by mobilizing resources from the public and private sectors, including from the international community in its research initiatives.
Alausa expressed optimism that doing so would enable Nigeria’s talented researchers, engineers and innovators to come up with solutions to national requirements in all sectors of our economy, especially the Power sector, Healthcare delivery, Agricultural development, water supply, communication, amongst others.
