COUNTRY PAPER:

1. COUNTRY PAPER: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (S&T) DEVELOPMENT POLICY IN NIGERIA BY OBASSI, ETTU SCIENTIFIC OFFICER RAW MATERIALS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, RMRDC-NIGERIA AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON S&T POLICY RESEARCH AND STATISTICAL INDICATORS IN COLUMBO, SRI LANKA 8-10 NOVEMBER, 2006.

2. 1) MAP OF NIGERIA

3. 2) BACKGROUND • NIGERIA is a West African country, with a coast along the Atlantic Ocean on the Gulf of Guinea in the south, Cameroon in East, Republic of Benin in the West, Niger Republic and the Chad in the North . Most of Nigeria consists of a low plateau cut by rivers, especially the Niger and its largest tributary, the Benue. The country takes its name from its chief river. ABUJA became the Federal Capital Territory in1991, government moved from Lagos to Abuja with the hope of creating a national capital where none of the over 250 ethnic groups of the country would be dominant. • Nigeria long had an agricultural economy but now depends almost entirely on the production of petroleum, which lies in large reserves below the Niger Delta. • Nigeria is by far the most populated of Africa’s countries, with more than one-seventh of the continent’s people. The people belong to many different ethnic groups. These groups give the country a rich culture, but they also pose major challenges to nation building. Ethnic strife has plagued Nigeria since it gained independence in 1960

4. 3) GENERAL INFORMATION

5. 4) THE FEDERAL MINSTRY OF SCIENCE &TECHNOLOGY, FMST • 4.1 Establishment: FMST was established as a full-fledged ministry through Act No. 1 of January, 1980 that saw the dissolution of the National Science and technology Development Agency (NSTDA) established by Decree No. 5 of 1977,following the apparent realization of the importance of S&T to national development, with the emergence of a new democratic government in 1979.

6. 4.2) THE MANDATES OF FMST: • The mandates are fashioned to cultivate durable S&T culture that would address current problems and future challenges covering areas of : • Formulation, monitoring and review of the national policy on S&T; • Promotion and coordination of scientific and technological research; • Promotion and administration of technology acquisition, adaptation and transfer; • Promotion and coordination of national production of scientific and technological goods and services; • Promotion and coordination of development of scientific and technological infrastructures; • Promotion and coordination of integrated, (i.e human infrastructural and institutional) scientific and technological capacity building ; and • Establishment and maintenance of relations with national and international, public and private scientific and technological organizations.

7. 4.3 VISION & MISSION In pursuance of these mandates and in order to articulate its service charter, FMST has formally defined, and government has accepted the following vision and mission statements of the ministry. • VISION OF FMST: The focal vision of the FMST is to make Nigeria, in the nearest future, an acknowledged member of the fast developing scientific and technologically progressive nations of the world and to be Africa’s leader in scientific and technological development. • MISSION OF FMST: The mission of the FMST is to chart a course of scientific and technological development of the nation through: - Planned and guided R&D in all areas of S&T; - Keeping abreast with latest progress in R&D in science and technology among the industrial and educated communities within the country, sub-region and overseas;

8. MISSION OF FMST: The mission of the FMST is to chart a course of scientific and technological development of the nation through: • Planned and guided R&D in all ares of S&T; • Keeping abreast with latest progress in R&D in science and technology among the industrial and educated communities within the country, sub-region and overseas; • Assuring that various R&D efforts of the public S&T establishments fit in with overall development plan of the nation; • Linkages of researchers and their establishments with entrepreneurs for commercialization of successful research results; • Utilizing the facilities ofTechnology Incubation (TI) and Science and Technology Parks (STP) to nurtutre new projects especially in the areas of national priority;

9. Promotion of projects that are strategic to the cause of aggregate national development; and • Advising government on S&T Policy matters. WORKING DOCUMENTS: In order to put each operational activity in its correct perspective, the FMST produced the following working documents as standard guidelines and operational tools; • National Policy on S&T; • Strategic Plan (2003-2007); • A compendium of on-going projects in Research establishments under and out of the FMST; and • Profiles of selected commercializable R&D results.The mission of the FMST is to chart a course of scientific and technological development of the nation through:

10. 4.4 AGENCIES & PARASTALS UNDER FMST & THEIR MANDATES

12. 4.4 SOME EFFORTS OF FMST TOWARDS PROMOTING/SUPPORTING S&T DEVELOPMENT • Launching of an earth observation microsatellite code named Nigeria Sat 1 on 27th Sept, 2003- the first national low orbit remote sensing satellite to be built by a sub-saharan African country. The lauching of Sat 1 at Plesetk, Russia represents the hunble beginning of our goal, highlights of which include: • Capacity acquisition for a number of scientists and engineers involved in the design, building of all subsystems of Nigerian Sat 1 • Establishment of skilled space scientists for Nigerian space capacity for building subsequent generations of satellites by ourselves. E.g Nigeria Sat 2 – a communication satellite whose work has reached advanced stage for launch early part of 2007. • Membership of an international Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) comprising UK, Nigeria, China, Algeria,Vetnam. Membership enables Nigeria to receive daily images from DMC dynamic remote sensing activities; and • Availability of real time data from daily revisit of scenes through DMC partnership to map and monitor environmental problems around the world. Data odtained can be applied to agricultural and environmental studies, National Geographic Information System (NGIS), monitoring of oil and gas pipelines, mineralization mapping settlements for national census etc

13. ACTIVITIES CONTD. • Launching of mobile internet unit (MIU)- The unit is locally assembled in25 seater bus that has beencoverted into a mbile IT training and cyber centre. It is equipped with internet acces VSAT, printers, photocopier and media facilities. The assemblage was built at a cost 25% of its impoerted version and over 9,500 youths and adults have benefited fron the services of the units. It is an essential tool for computer training/education, community info-base centre, development of healthcare delivery etc in the remote areas of our 3rd tier of government (local govt areas LGAs). • The redelegation of the .ng top domain for Nigeria to the Director Genera/CEO of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) from Mrs. Odusote who invented and reistered the .ngtld for Nigeria in 1995. • The centralization of software purchase and application in Nigeria through Software licensing agreement between Microsoft corporation.The package involved personel traing andsupply of pcs.

14. ACTIVITIES CONTD. • Launching of e-government and public service network. Nigeria’s ICT policy has been widely acknowledged as laudable by countries in the sub –region. The policy was approved in 2001, following which NITDA was established. Federal ministries and agencies have been provided standard domain names and websites and establishment of LAN/WAN between them and NITDA. • Commercialization of R&D results in cassava-wheat flour composite with 10% cassava flour developed by FIIRO, Ceramic porcelain Insulators by PRODA for which already exist domestic manufacturers to supply National Power Outfit PHC, Neem processing plant by NARICT with great industrial potentials for pharmaceutical, bio-insecticides • Establishment of National R&D Coordinationa council (NRDCC) to be chaired by Mr. President • Reform of National S&T and Inovation System , etc

15. 5) STATUS OF S&T POLICY DEVELOPMENT • Major Historical Development of S&T in Nigeria:- Nigeria has an inherited colonial science structure focused on the exploitation of tropical products and mineral deposits together with sustainable management of agricultural production. Historical record predates the establishment of the first sets of research institutes in Nigeria during the colonial rules. The essence then was to boost output to adequately supply the much needed raw materials for industries in Europe. Most of the research institutes established became full-flegded national institutes in Nigeria after independence.

16. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT Contd. • Following the international conference on the organisation of Resaerch and Training in Africa in 1964, Nigeria established a National Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (NCSIR) by decree No.83 of 1966. The Council was expected to act as an advisory body to the government and as such, lacked executive powers (Aluko- Olokun, 1999). Its mandate was quite narrow and therefore had structural weakness that prevented it from functioning efficiently. The real consciousness of the development of science and technology in Nigeria came into force after the Civil war in1970.

17. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT Contd. • Federal organs for Science and Technology (S&T) administration in Nigeria were set up at the end of the civil war (1966-1970) by decree No.6 of 1970 establishing the Nigerian Council for S&T (NCST), based on the report by UNESCO expert, Dr. N. R. Martin entitled – NIGERIA: The Science Policy Machinery, July- Sept 1966, Paris, UNESCO, and had four sectoral research Councils viz: • Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria ,ARCN, • Medical Research Council of Nigeria, MRCN, • Natural Sciences Research Council of Nigeria, NSRCN and • Industrial Research Council of Nigeria, IRCN,.

18. Historical Dev. Contd. • In 1974, UNESCO organised the first regional ministerial conference on S&T development in Africa called CASTAFRICA I which was held in Dakar, Senegal (Khalil, 2002). The conference identified and recommended among other issues, the need for African Countries to formulate their S&T policy to guide national development, especially rural and industrial development. • In 1976, the government of Nigeria, in pursuance of its commitment to the resolution reached at the the first regional conference, set up an S&T policy committee which recommended two policy options: • The establishment of an executive agency to coordinate S&T policy; or • The establishment of Ministry of Science and Technology with all Research Institutes under it.

19. Historical Dev. in S&T contd. • Selection of the first option led to the establishment of National Science and Technology Agency (NSTDA) by decree No. 5 of 1977 withall research institutes under it. The NSTDA had no Minister and was chaired by Chief of staff Sypreme Headquarters, Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (Animalu, 2003). • The search for an ideal S&T structure did not end with NSTDA, and hence the emergence in 1980 of a full-fledge FMST created by the Civilian Adminstration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari who also dissolved the NSTDA. An Economist, Dr Sylvester Ugoh became the first Honourable Minister of, and was later replaced by Mr. Ademola Thomas and Dr. M. Bode Olowoporoku during the cabinate reshuffle in 1982 and 1983 respectively.

20. SUMMARY MAJOR HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF S&T IN NIGERIA • The ministers in Nigeria welds enormous executive powers by their appointment by the President, and as a result, their performance or non-performance is unfortunately tied to what they can achieve, not minding the inherited colonial structure met on ground. • 1966 – Establishment of National Council for Scientific Industrial Research (NSCSIR) , based on the report by UNESCO expert, Dr. N. R. Martin entitled – NIGERIA: The Science Policy Machinery, July- Sept 1966, Paris, UNESCO .

21. SUMMARY MAJOR HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF S&T IN NIGERIA • 1970 – 1st real Federal Organ for Science and Technology administration –Nigerian Council for Science and Technology, NCST with 4 research councils viz: ARCN, MRCN, NSRCN and IRCN. • 1976 – Following the first regional ministerial conference on S&T development in Africa called CASTAFRICA I and organized by UNESCO in 1974 which was held in Dakar, Senegal (Khalil, 2002).,the conference identified and recommended among other issues, the need for African Countries to formulate their S&T policy to guide national development, especially rural and industrial development. The need for all in charge S&T body re-emmerged. • 1977 – Formation of NSTDA • 1980 – Formation of FMST

22. SUMMARY Contd. • Ministers: • -1980 .Dr Sylvester Ugoh – Economist • 1982 Replaced by Mr Ademola Thomas • 1983 Replaced by Dr. Bode Olowoporoku • 1982 FMST phased out and domicile in Fed Min. Of Educ. • 1986 FMST restored with Prof Emevon as Minister, Under him we developed the Ist National Policy on S&T • 1989 Came Prof. G.O. Ezekwe who fashioned out NASENI as missing link in the policy and also introduced Risk Fund and Launched NSTF that never really took off . • 1993 (Aug- Nov) Professor Bath Nnaji, a robotic Engineer. • 1993 Dr Laz Onaogu came with RAPID Project(Research Adaptation & Products for Ind Dev) produced the mandates. • 1994 Army return with Gen Momah • 1998 Chief Ebitimi BaNIGO. • 1999 Till date Prof T. Isuon Review the first National S&T policy, launch the disaster monitoring satellite, and again produced most of the working documents. • 2003 Full review of the S&T 2003 policy.

23. THE S&T POLICIES • THE 1986 S&T POLICY: The guidelines of the 1986 S&T policy recognized the fact that scientists and technologists in Nigeria had over the years engaged in their work without well defined national direction (FMST, 1986). Researches were carried ou without much effort made towards commercialization, apart from publishing them in journals. Also , entrepreneurs were averse to risk and as such, were not willing to commercialise viable research findings. The national objectives in 1986 as captured in the fourth development plan include among others, the achievement of self reliance through: • acquiring enough technical know-how, skills and materials to defend the integrity and security of the nation; • being technically self-reliant in the production of capital and consumer goods and raw materials; and • maintaining a flourishing national export capability of goods and services.

24. SECTORIAL OUT LOOK • The document addressed the following key sectors of national life: • Educational System- emphases of science at all level; • Mass Movement – stipulates mass movement for S&T • Motivation for individuals engaged in S&T projects to include special incentive and/or remunerations; • Capital Goods – thepolicy encourage the production of machinery and spare parts based on local inputs; • Materials – the policy state the exploitation, processing and utilization of the nationads material resources to enhance self reliance and export • Energy to be developed, protected and optimally harnessed in the overall interest of the nation; • Technology – advantage to be taken of technology in all aspects of day- to- day activities • Others are :Military Science, Environment, International Exchange and cooperation in S&T, National System of S&T (then NCST), Financing S&T, Research, Development, Application and Marketing. • Within the life span of this policy, achievements were recorded in many aspects of agriculture. But generally the policy lacked effective implementation mechanism as well as evaluation and monitoring strategies.

25. 1999 S&T POLICY • A revised national policy on S&T was prepared in 1999 for a year 25-year time frame with revision at 5-year intervals. It emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to the creation of an independent, integrated and self-sustaining economy, with the National policy itself being the framework for the effort towards the fulfillment of that commitment. Key guideline were: S&T should provide the basis for national development; Policies should take account of the country’s economic situation and cultural milieu; manpower should be developed to provide capability for utilization of natural resources; and socio-politicalsystem should reflectthe prime position of S&T . Sixteen sectors of the economy area identified as strongly reliant on S&T and the policy extends to the structural issues such as capacity building, popularization and international collaboration. Specific policies have as a result, been drafted for biotechnology, space research and IT, with others in preparation

26. THE 2003 S&T POLICY: • THE 2003 S&T POLICY: The FMST in realizing the changing global policy on S&T and the emerging frontiers of knowledge, embarked on the review of the 1986 S&T policy. The new policy was articulated to: • Stimulate initiative and creativity of the S&T community while establishing strong link between their works and requirements of the economy, educational system and society at large. • Encourage the mobility of scientists and researchers to network and explore the best opportunities and alternatives in the country and abroad for use and improvement of their competence. • Increase the share of the productive sector in the national effort for scientific and technological development especially in the private productive sector. • Building strong indigenous competence in order to participate as equal in international negotiations in the areas such as protection of intellectual property and rights of access to information, biotechnology and biosafety, environmental control and the establishment of technical standard in international communication networks.

27. The new policy expanded the frontiers of S&T as contained in the 1986 policy document by identifying three core areas where capabilities should be built These include information and communication technology (ICT), biotechnology, and Space technology. Other areas such as linkage of University/Research institute / Industry, Capacity building and technology transfer, by multinational companies, Energy research,, Cooperation on implementation and funding of R&D, Empowering SMEs through appropriate technology, Traditional Medicine Development, S&T Data Bank, Engineering materials development etc.

28. IMPLEMENTATION AND EXPERIENCES. • Apart from the checkered history of evolution of S/T in Nigeria, which is also applicable to the implementation, a major constraint on the implementation of science based development has been funding and lack of continuity or consistency. Nigeria, until the past few year used to spend far less than the one percent of GDP advocated by African Union [AU] on R/D. Also, every new government in the country with the ever changing Ministers of S/T have tended to start something new, without recourse to some of the lofty projects of their predecessors. • In the recent past, for any project to be funded by the military or political class in government, it must meet the following criteria before it can pass through the screening by the Council of Ministers; • Is the project in national rolling plan? • Who is to execute it? • Will it pay for itself? • Can it wait? • What is the cost/benefit profile? • Who will benefit from it?

29. It is difficult for R/D projects in science and technology to meet these political and economic criteria without being integrated into the full plan perspective cycle. This lack of integration apparently explains why government funding of R/D projects in S/T has been grossly inadequate till date in the Country, though one needs to commend the steps taken already be present President Obasanjo regime to move the S&T out of the seeming vicious cycle. • In a science-based development, the actual operation of S/T transformation requires an operational flow chart that satisfies a different set of criteria; • What project must be done? • When?; where?; How?; By whom? • With what available resource inventory?

30. IMPLEMENTATION Contd. • These criteria emphasize scientific and technological capacity building for national self reliance as well as the relevance and technical feasibility of a project. This underscores the importance of political stability, economic strength, sustainability etc for any long – range development plan of the type which newly industrialized countries have applied for sustainability and to achieve to desired goal of self reliance. It is also imperative to find common ground that meets the two sets of criteria outlined above. It is frequently said that ‘policy should be based on sound science.’ • This is more easily said than done! In a system of representational democracy, with strong separation of powers, politics is inextricably connected with policy. This is true for S&T as for any other area of human activity. We have in our society and those of many other nations, a complicated “three-body” problem. The three bodies are: Science (and Technology), Policy, and Politics with forces between them which we cannot describe in any simple way. (See diagram fig 4 below}

31. Judiciary SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLICY POLITICS Executive Legislative THE “THREE- BODY” PROBLEM

32. 7) FUNDING • FUNDING S&T: A comparism of S&T funding rates in Nigeria and other countries since the creation of FMST is summarized in the table below.(Taken from G.O. Ezekwe’s Memorandum to the National Constitutional Conference, entitled : A Constitutional Provision for Science, Engineering and Technology Development – February 1994).Nigeria has considerable human potential. It counts 60 universities, 44 polytechnics and 65 research institutes where researches are carried out. Currently in the country, funding in Research, Technology Development and Innovation (RTDI) landscape is principally from thr Federal Government, with institutes normally funded through their supervisory ministry. • An exception is the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC which is funded through 1% import surcharge on capital goods, spare parts and raw materials. • Universities are supported through the National Universities Commission. Commercial production arising from S&T is financed by the Nigerian Bank Of Industry, venture capital and the Nigerian Bank fo Agriculure. Some money comes from multinationals. Support from international agencies has come from the Canadian (IDRC), UK’s DfID, USAID, etc. At present UNESCO is collaborating in a project aimed at reform of the S&T system.

33. 7) FUNDING • Universities are supported through the National Universities Commission. Commercial production arising from S&T is financed by the Nigerian Bank Of Industry, venture capital and the Nigerian Bank fo Agriculure. Some money comes from multinationals. Support from international agencies has come from the Canadian (IDRC), UK’s DfID, USAID, etc. At present UNESCO is collaborating in a project aimed at reform of the S&T system. • Research performance is by about 65 Research Institutes, about 60 Universities (made up of 25 Federal 24 State and about 10 Private Universities, 44 Poly technics recognized as centres for R&D activities.

34. SOME STATISTICS OF S&T IN NIGERIA Source: Prof A . Animalu’s Education , S&T Agenda for the 21st Century Source: Prof A . Animalu’s Education , S&T Agenda for the 21st Century

35. More stats

36. PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES • Apart from low funding of R&D, other major problems and challenges include: • Poor state of S&T infrastructures in the country especially the level of deterioration before the coming of President Obasanjo’ administration. • Problem of Univerity/Research Institute/Industry linkage leading to poor commercialization of R&D results, while many unutilized results lie fallow in the universities and research institutes. • Brain-drain due to poor remuneration/ incentives to personnel involved in R&D. • Inadequate Statistical data for planning. • Poor management and inadequate macro-level coordination • Problem of conducive environment (political stability) for private sector participation • Lack of patronage for made-in-nigeria goods even when they exhibit high quality, leading to irrational importation. • Poverty reduction and sustainable development dominates economic strategy, but there is insufficient understanding of the political leverage and the effect of RTDI on poverty alleviation & eradication and sustainable development.

37. STRENGTH • Current growth in the economy to about 10% and the apparent stability in government since 1999. • Oil & Gas wealth providing about 95% foreign earnings • Abundant Human resources in R&D and the current efforts of government to tap from Nigerians in Diaspora. • Emergence of scientific and technological collaborations with new partners like China, India, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, and currently NAM S&T, etc • WEAKNESS • Pervasive corruption • Inability to use productively oil wind fall to improve social condition • Strategic role of R&D may be recognizing formally by government but it is no given priority in terms of tangible policy measure and support. • Inability to attract the much need efforts of the private sector in R&D. etc

38. GOVERNMENT’S NEW ECONOMIC INITIATIVE AND S&T REFORMS • GLOBALIZATION: In this day and age, the gap between the technologically wealthy countries and the technologically poor is quickly becoming a more difficult rift to breach than the economic gap. In fact, it has reached a point where the key to bridging the economic divide is the harnessing of science and modern technology foe economic and social development. • Based on this understanding, the present Govt of President Obasanjo has placed great emphasis on the importance of the FMST, and charged it with the responsibility of coordinating the disparate efforts of using S&T for development in a wide array of sectors such as : education, medicine, agriculture/ biotechnology, communication etc. Further to this and realizing the imperfections in our system and the need to build a prosperous and strong nation, the President remarked in his inaugural speech of February, 2005 to National Political Reform Conference that ‘Pluralism is the order of the day and globalization, technology, modernization politics of accommodation dictates that we must reject those ideas and argument that seek to divide us and establish the interest of ethnic entrepreneurship as the sole interest of the people’

39. Worldwide, indicators are devised for signaling or monitoring, for accountability, for legitimization and for awareness on S&T. Some these indicators currently available are: • -Research& Development (R&D) – measured according to allocated expenditures and human resource input; • -Human Resource in S&T –measured in terms of science education,and training according to levels and fields; • -Innovation – Very important indicator S&T activities in a country in term of new findings; • -Publications – measure the level of production & dissemination of S&T knowledge; and • -Patent –This measures the impact of S&T activities in a given socio-economic setting

40. AFRICAN INITIATIVE • NEPAD is an acronym for New Partnership for Africa’s Development. It is a collective resolve by African leaders to pursue socio-economic development that would be sustainable and bring about peace and stability needed in some countries of Africa. It targets to leap-frog development to the next level in Africa. It also is all embracive with S&T contents. For example NEPAD’s research agenda has rekindled government’s interest in biotechnology, ICT, New and Advanced Materials which is also embedded in the Nigerian S&T Policy. The National Biotecnology Development Agency (NABDA), in Abuja has created six centres across the six geopolitical zones with research activities domiciled in universities in each of the zones.

41. NEPAD recognizes the food crises of some African countries and therefore also supports biotechnology through NGO Cooperation and Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP). • Africa must now devise long-term strategies to build capacity of the continent’s scientific infrastructure, and improve the conditions for scientists by offering them adequate salaries and reasonable career opportunities. R&D fund situation must need to be changed for the better.

42. S&T REFORMS IN NIGERIA • Prior to the political and economic crises in1985, Nigeria was among the most successful countries in terms of scientific production .The crisis had dramatic consequences for S&T establishments, and by 2000, Nigeria had lost its leading position, even though human resources were still available. Future prospects were dim – there were no plans to activate the Nigerian Universities, and no scientific policy could emerge and be committedly pursued to spur technological development. The only means to halt the resulting brain drain would be to increase academic salaries.(Lebeau et al.,2000).

43. The coming of the Obasanjo administration has changed the tide for the better and is putting Nigeria on course to reclaim its rightful position in African S&T scheme of things. The government has brought back lost hopes for Nigeria to begin to fulfill its enormous economic potentials. Agricultural production has continued to expand, growing at estimated 7% in 2004 compared to 6.1 in 2003. So also is the real GDP growth which picked up strongly to about 1110.7% in 2003. The Mining and quarry sector long neglected is also showing tremendous growth, while the foreign debt profile of $32.9 billion at the end of 2003 has reverted to substantial foreign reserve following debt relief by the Paris Club in support of Nigeria’s economic reforms.

44. At the request of the Federal Government of Nigeria, an international advisory boad for the reforms of the country’s science, technology and innovation system was established by UNESCO in October 2004.A core activity of the reform programme is a joint review of investment, industry and innovation in Nigeria involving UNESCO, UNCTAD, UNIDO and WIPO. Finance in equal shares by the govt of Nigeria and UNESCO/Japan Funds-in –Trust to the tune of US$1million, the review in part of preparatory work for the donors’ conference in Nigeria is planning to call to the fund implementation of a multi –year plan of action on science, technology and innovation. Other international agencies expected to join the reform programme are the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the World Bank and the International Association of Universities.

45. The President also recently announced the establishment of a National Science Foundation using the “windfall” generated by current high oil prices to diversify Nigeria’s economic investment in science and technology. He pledged the sum of US$5 billion endowment for the project. The special fund in trust for science will not only benefit Nigeria but also assist other African countries in designing project proposals for the reform of their national science systems and development of managerial capacities

46. In June 2006, the Director General of UNESCO launched the Nigerian parliamentarian S&T forum in Abuja. Amongst other, regional policy fora was recommended for establishment to facilitate an exchange of experiences and know-how in science, technology and innovation policy making, science legislation and ethics; to strengthen partnerships between legislators, scientist, the media, civil society, and public and private sectors in developing national innovation system; to support capacity- building by science parliamentary committees in emerging democracies. • The country is equally investing in the development of science and Technology Park in Abuja • The country through the FMST has also reviewed the National S&T Policy which is currently implementing.

47. COLLABORATIONS: International co-operation is necessary to build our country’s human capacity and knowledge base in S&T. The free flow of ideas and information, exchange of high level researchers, and strategic intellectual alliances between individuals and institutions are also necessary to help us find solutions to the developmental challenges both nationally and globally. With this in mind, Nigeria is widely collaborating with national, private sector, international organisations, NGOs etc to put her S&T in the desired shape. In the past bilateral donor agencies, such as DFID(UK), DGIS(the Netherlands), USAID, FOA, WB, Canada, UNESCO, UNIDO etc, have supported substantial S&T programmes in Africa for which Nigeria has also benefited. Today the list is growing with the NAM S&T, China etc.

48. CONCLUSION: • The need for the reform is patent after four decade of military rule marked by state corruption and spiraling foreign debt, following independence in1960. The reward of the reform could also be immense, for Nigeria is potentially a wealthy country. The world’s 13th largest oil producer and the 6th largest in OPEC, Nigeria has enormous gas reserve which, when fully exploited will place her among the world top ten gas producers. The reform comes at an auspicious time. After sluggish growth initially following the end of military rule, GDP rose by nearly 10% in 2003, driven by strong oil receipts and agricultural growth of 7%. Public spending has climbed markedly, from 19% of GDP in 1997 to 50% in 2001 (DFID). One aim of the science reform system will be to use this growth to diversify Nigeria’s economy, in order to reduce dependence on fluctuating oil prices, accounting for about 95% of foreign earning compared to 58% in1970 (UNDAF) • Science and Technology are today more important than ever for Nigeria, if it is to raise the standards of living of its people, consolidate a modern economy and participate as a significant partner in the global arena. This implies that the economy must be modernized and made competitive. The efforts of the present government in privatization, S&T reforms with UNESCO, reform in the educational sector, and upgrade of facilities and infrastructures in the Universities and research establishments etc are steps in the right direction that require great level of sustainability. Nigeria must be seen to be leading the way in putting together the right S&T policies and their implementation for most African nations to follow, considering all its enormous endowments.

49. THANK YOU