By CHIOMA OBINNA

The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, has urged secondary school students to show more interest in medical research with a view to contributing towards national development.

Making the call during a symposium to herald this year’s Children’s Day in Lagos with the theme; “Educate a Child Develop The Nation”, the Director General, NIMR, Professor Innocent Ujah, noted that the medical field, like scientific researches generally, is the pathway to successful life and improved national wellbeing.

Ujah who said the Institute was marking the day with mixed feelings, when over 200 schoolgirls abducted from Chibok, Borno State were still missing, opined that the desire to “catch them young” had been the motivation in the last four years, to engage young and up-coming Nigerians in science, technology and innovations, which form the building block of development.

“We do so by stimulating their interest in health research, with early emphasis that sound education drives research for national development.

“Any child who is inquisitive is very likely to grow up intelligently to become a great man or woman, which will assist in contributing to knowledge and subsequently, national development.”

He explained that research is used to establish or confirm facts, reaffirm the results of previous work and solves new or existing problems. To be a good researcher, a child must be inquisitive, asking many questions.

“Any child can perform or participate in research if properly trained and mentored, but such child must be grounded in the fundamentals of intelligent discussions, inquisitiveness and should have the will to investigate. Researchers like other professionals contribute a great deal to national development.

Research scientist

Further, Ujah said: “The career as research scientists begins with basic qualifications in any field of human endeavor capped with requisite training in research, planning and management. It is on this basis that we have decided to engage this young and up-coming boys and girls in the art of strategic thinking and analysis.”

Deputy Director of Research and Head of Clinical Science Division, Dr. Oliver Ezechi regretted that despite its importance, research has not been given its pride of place even among Nigerian children. “We wish to stimulate their interest right from secondary school age. We want to catch them young. We are encouraging children to embrace research from secondary school,” he stated.