In the wake of the series of recoveries of huge sums of money by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, across the country, Nigerian scientists have cried out that such money had capacity to transform the nation’s health system, fund research and development, and reduce maternal mortality by at least 70 percent.
Speaking at the Send Forth Lecture for former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, Prof. Oni Idigbe, who recorded a major feat in the area of Tuberculosis and HIV research, the scientists decried the continuous dwindling research funding in the country even at the level of Federal Ministry of Health.
In his submission, immediate past Director General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Prof Abdusalami Nasidi said if Nigeria hopes to be among African countries predicted to lead in research by 2063, there must be investment in research.
“It is not that we don’t have money to fund research but the amount found at the airport in Kaduna would have transformed all our public health facilities and would have reduced maternal mortality by more than 70 percent. The amount also found at the Ikoyi apartment could have strengthened all our institutions and funded research as well as helped publish them in medical journals.” Decrying dwindling allocation to the health sector, Nasidi urged scientists at NIMR who were mentees of Idigbe to use the skill impacted on them to the benefit of mankind. In his submission, the Director General, NIMR, Prof. Babatunde Salako, said research is key to the growth and development of the nation.
“Even if we get the funds from outside it does not as much serve the interest of the country. Government must necessarily put some amount of money for research so that we can meet our research priority. It is the only way you can improve the healthcare system. Medical research comes up with innovative ideas like drug developments, prevention and innovation.”
“We should not depend on foreign donors and unless government wakes up to realise that research and development are important for the growth of the country, we are not likely to make more profit”.
The Guest Lecturer, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, who spoke on “Research Administration and Mentorship” said Nigeria ought to be more serious about research.
“Right now we do not have funding for research. Though we have good ones but they are not enough. We need to have more people. Too many of the funding is being generated from abroad; we need as a country to decide that research is important and put our money there.
“One of those things I am suggesting is that the private sector should come in to work with government to fund research and get like tax incentives.
“At the moment we need more spending on health, education and infrastructure.
All we have to do is enhance what we have to build capacity.
“The world we are going into is a very different one and things are changing so rapidly. The way we think has to change, we have to recognise that there is a lot of knowledge and it is how you apply the knowledge and how do we bring up people who are thinking creatively so that they can use knowledge to solve problems.
On his part, Idigbe, who was being celebrated, noted that in research, individuals should learn to talk to one another and not work in isolation. He advised his mentees to also pass the knowledge gathered to the younger generations who are eager to learn.
By: Chioma Obinna
Vanguard News
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