Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has challenged scholars and researchers in the country to move beyond title earning to contributing meaningfully to the development of the country through their researches.

He said the Lagos State Government was prepared to provide funding for any research endeavor that could lead to a finding cure for the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD.

Fashola, who threw the challenge yesterday during the disbursement of grants to 31 beneficiaries whose research proposals had been approved by the Lagos State Research and Development Council, specifically challenged Prof. Maurice Iwu, to come up with a lucid proposal on his Bitter Kola theory, stressing that the state government would be willing to sponsor it.

According to the governor, professors, Ph.d holders and scholars are respected, not because of the finery of their titles, but because of their intelligence and what they have to offer the society.

He added that the state had taken a giant stride by disbursing research grants to scientists and researchers who have proposals on what can move the society forward.

The governor said it was disappointing that when the country was faced with the problem of Ebola, none of the much talked about probable solutions came from Nigeria or Africa as a whole.

The governor noted that periods such as when there is Ebola scourge presents opportunities for researchers and scholars to write their names in the good books of history.