BY IKENNA ASOMBA

Before 1958, when oil was discovered in Olobiri, in present day Bayelsa State, Niger-Delta region, three existing regions, comprising the West, East and North harnessed and utilised to the fullest, the God-given natural resources domiciled in their regions.

Then, they unanimously pooled some percentages of the proceeds from these gifts of nature to the centre, (federal government), without the citizenry of these regions languishing in abject poverty, unlike what obtains sway today. The rest is history.

Then, agricultural produce such as cocoa, cotton, groundnut, timber, palm oil, hides and skin and a host of others, were the mainstay of the country. Then, government at regional and federal levels showed keen interest in research results emanating from tertiary institutions and research centres, thereby implementing them as policies for the economic and national growth of the country.

Sad as it may seem, by the advent of the so-called oil boom, research institutes given various formal mandates to engage in research works that will improve the economy and better the lives of the people have gone moribund or not actively performing as a result of government’s insensitivity.

Perhaps, we seem not to hear more of research institutes like the Lake Chad Research Institute, Maiduguri; Institute for Agricultural Research, Zaria; Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan; National Cereal Research Institute, Niger State; National Root Crop Research Institute, Abia State; National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan and Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute, Kwara State, among others.

At inception, the nation’s research centres were vibrant and were fast spinners for economic growth and national development. But today, this role leaves much to be desired.

Deeply worried by this abysmal trend, government at all levels have been charged to adequately fund and equip research laboratories in the nation’s tertiary institutions so as to close the gap that exists between the academia and the labour industry.

Prof. Senapon Bakre gave this charge while delivering the 45th Inaugural Lecture Series of the Lagos State University recently.

Speaking on the relevance of micro organisms and fermentation to man, entitled Unseen Forces: Microbes Fermentation and Mankind, Bakre opined that government’s passivity to funding and sponsoring research by academics, creates a wide gap between the nation’s ivory towers and the labour industry. This, according to her, impedes the country’s economic and national growth.

In her one hour interactive lecture, the Professor of Microbiology, of the Faculty of Science, LASU, while dissecting her topic, explained that man should not regard microbes which she termed unforeseen forces, as dangerous to his existence. According to her, microbes have high level of medical, agricultural and economic benefits to Nigeria, if well harnessed and utilised.

She said; “I think I have been able to show to some extent the importance of microbes meeting the sustenance of mankind and the therapeutic values associated with Lactobacillus (a micro organism) and harnessing it. These unseen agents are beneficial in curbing malnutrition and infant mortality.”

Proffering solutions to the nation’s research sector, Prof. Bakre urged government to increase the budget on education and encourage young scientists to improve on our local or traditional foods. She noted that there should be a meeting piont between academia and the public such that research findings are sponsored for adaptation in small/medium biotechnology centres.