By EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

As Nigeria plans to become one of the top 20 economies in the world by 2020, government must  be committed to a deliberate and focused investment in knowledge; science, technology and innovation, according to the Secretary-General, Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) Prof. Faborode.

The Don stated this in his keynote speech at a Science&tech workshop in Abuja, titled ‘Building Nigeria’s Innovation Ecosystem.’

He said such investments was crucial since it has been the common denominator for all countries with strong economy.

The Professor,  who is the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, pointed out that effective research policy could accelerate growth, though noting that it is presently constrained by inadequate funding and lack of continuity and consistency.

He explained that government has not paid serious attention to research and development in its STI activities, despite several good intentions expressed by different stakeholders and researchers.

“The government has not paid serious attention to research and development in its STI activities, despite expressing  good intensions. The government plans to become one of the top 20 economies in the world by 2020, but just 0.2 per cent of gross domestic product, GDP in 2007 was spent on R&D.

In fact South Africa spends 8.5 times more on R&D than  Nigeria,”

He insisted that Nigeria as a nation needs new fundamental strategic thinking, if it is to realize her vision.

Quoting a UN Millennium Project’s Task Force on Science, Technology and Innovation report entitled Innovation: Applying Knowledge in Development, the Don averred that “unless STI starts to show results and alleviates hunger, poverty, illiteracy and ill-health, political and social upheavals will continue to plague the country.