IT is incontrovertible that the key that opens the door to the development of any society is research and this is basic to the success and growth of societies which have religiously formed the culture and tradition of unending research in all areas of development.
ESSENTIALLY, research governs all areas of human endeavour as well as all fields of life. Any innovation that ignores the need for research and lays claim to new discoveries could at best be a fraud and is therefore bound to fail.
THAT there is a tendency to confine research to institutions of learning is a measure of how well the output from such academic institutions, particularly the universities are reliable and dependable in the processes leading to new discoveries.
INTERESTINGLY, however, these days, most large firms now have their research and development departments in order to remain relevant in a scientifically competitive environment where efficiency and precision are now the hallmarks to survive new trends and modern devices that outpace existing ones surpassing them in all respects.
IT is sad to note that in the last two or three decades, there has been a gradual erosion of research culture from our universities, basically due to lack of funding and government’s indifference or fears that research grants are improperly utilized. This has also largely contributed to the worsening conditions which face genuine academics interested in engaging in profitable research work.
AGAINST this backdrop therefore, it is an admittance of fact that poor funding, disinterest by government, lack of commitment and sometimes fraud are inevitable drawbacks to research which is a sine qua non and an essential ingredient of the success story of any nation.
LEADING nations in the world today, such as the United States, Britain, France, Japan, Germany, Russia, China and new emerging Asian powers, including South-Korea, India, North-Korea and many more are changing the face of their societies through research where its end product, technology and scientific discoveries are the inevitable consequences.
THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER is worried that Nigeria appears not to have the interest to nurture the culture and tradition of research by granting assistance to universities in the country to embark on research in any area of interest, particularly in science and technology.
WE are of the firm belief that many intellectuals in our ivory towers are not bereft of ideas that can help develop extensive research work in their fields of study.
WE have for so long taken the Nigerian university system for granted and it is a system that holds much promise for the future if Nigerian political leaders will allow it to take its leading place in providing some level of guidance by way of research works that could propel the nation forward.
THERE are instances of many Nigerian intellectuals and egg heads who when they leave the shores of this country go to foreign institutions to make remarkable feats and achievements in science and technology and thus contributing to the growth of their adopted society, while at home such opportunity was never given room to thrive so that they could prove the depth of their knowledge and learning.
WE implore the Federal Government to improve the capacity and ability of the Nigerian university system to deliver in the area of research and development by working through the National Universities Commission (NUC) to challenge institutes, departments and colleges of these universities to come forward with research projects that will better the Nigerian society. The government must not see any amount devoted to research and development as money poured down the drain. At any rate, if just a quarter of the several billions of dollars embezzled and squandered by past leaders have been devoted to - research, certainly, Nigeria would have been better for it.
THERE is no doubt that the neglect in this area of research contributed to the problem of brain drain and the exodus of many promising minds from our universities to that of foreign nations, hence the need to reinvigorate the research system and put it to better use for the nation’s gains and the benefit of the people at large.
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