advising governments on scientific issues of...

THE WORLD CONFERENCE ON SCIENCE (WCS) FOLLOW-UP SYMPOSIUM: HARNESSING SCIENCE FOR SOCIETY:

FURTHER PARTNERSHIPS

ORGANIZED BY UNESCO IN COLLABORATION WITH TWAS AND ICSU (VENICE: 2-5 MARCH, 2005)

ADVISING GOVERNMENTS ON SCIENTIFIC ISSUES OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE: A FRONT

ITEM OF THE AGENDA

BY

PROF. TURNER T. ISOUNHON. MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NIGERIA

POLITICAL VISION AND INFORMED LEADERSHIP IN NIGERIA, 1999 – DATE

1. The Obasanjo Administration has initiated bold, pragmatic on-going political, social and economic reforms, viz.

Public Service Reforms to enhance Productivity, Efficiency, Accountability, Equity and JusticeNational Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS) Initiative to promote:

Diversification of the National EconomyEmployment GenerationWealth CreationPoverty ReductionValue Re-orientation etc

POLITICAL VISION AND INFORMED LEADERSHIP IN NIGERIA, 1999 – DATE (CONT’D)

Deregulation and Liberalization of Nigeria’s current Public Sector-Led Economy to one that is more Productive, Diversified, Private Sector-Led.Integrated Capacity Building Programmes (Human, Infrastructural, and Institutional) Programmes to Ensure Global Competitiveness in National Flagship Programmes (ICT, Biotech, Space).

Honorary Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology Set Up in 2001. Membership composed of world renownedScience and Technology (S&T) professionals from Nigeria and abroad.

On going Comprehensive Reform of Nigeria’sScience, Technology and Innovation System (UNESCO-Nigeria Joint Programme) to cover:

All 75 government Research Establishments55 Universities and 44 PolytechnicsPrivate Research Establishments.

Government has initiated Policies and Established Relevant Implementing Agencies for Three Flagship S&T Programmes in:

ICT, Biotech, and Space Technology to Leapfrog Nigeria’s Entry into the Global Knowledge Economy.

Nine other Draft Sectoral Policies on S&T in place. These Policies include:- Promotion of R&D – Friendly, S&T–Based SMEs- Engineering Materials R&D - Energy Research and Development- Intellectual Property Rights- S&T Data Bank- Integrated Capacity Building- Partnership and Cooperation of S&T Professionals across Public-

Private and Domestic-International Divides- Promotion of Cooperation between S&T Line Ministries- Traditional Medicine R&D

POLITICAL VISION AND INFORMED LEADERSHIP IN NIGERIA, 1999 – DATE (CONT’D)

PROGRESS REPORT (SELECTED EXAMPLES)

A. Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

1. Formulation and Adoption of ICT-Friendly National Policies (Tele- communications, Information Technology, Broadcasting, Space Science and Technology).

Deregulation and Liberalization of the ICT Industry.

Optical fibre network linking major cities in Nigeria; by both Public and Private Sector Enterprises – on-going.

2nd National Operator (Private Sector): massive role out of infrastructure in 32 cities across the nation.

PROGRESS REPORT (SELECTED EXAMPLES) Cont’d

Additional (12 No.) society-friendly on-going multi-sectoral programmes and projects across public-private, domestic-international divides (including partnerships with major global ICT giants).

Mobile Internet Units (MIUs) designed and built locally at 25% cost of the imported counterpart – need Public-Private Partnerships.

Planning, Designing and Configuring a scalable National Information Infrastructure Backbone (NIIB) to achieve a minimum capacity of 2 Gbps, using a combination of Optical Fibres, Satellite Communications, and Wireless Technology;

Promotion of High Bandwidth Physical Connectivity.


B. Space Programme:

1. NigeriaSat-1, the first Low Earth Orbit remote sensing satellite built by a sub-Saharan African nation was launched on 27th September, 2003 by National Space Research & Development Agency (NASRDA), an Agency established in 1999. Earth receiving station for the satellite is located in Asokoro, Abuja. Useful capacity building project: merit –driven process promoted.

2. Satellite data from NigeriaSat-1 being harnessed for numerous multi-sectoral applications.

Patronage from both domestic and international sources (Europe, Asia, USA, Africa).

NigeriaSat-1 in an International Disaster Monitoring Constellation contributed useful data for managing the recent Tsunami Disaster.

International Commercial company set up to market satellite services.


B. Space Programme:

NigeriaSat-2 (remote sensing satellite) with higher ground resolution is scheduled for Launch in 2007

3. Nigeria’s Communication Satellite christened NIGCOMSAT-1, due for launch in November, 2006, is being designed and will be built and launched in partnership with China Great Wall Industry Corporation


C. Biotechnology Programme

1 In a Public-Private partnership, arrangement Nigeria and Trinity Biotech

of Ireland will start the manufacture of Diagnostic Test Kits for

HIV/AIDS, malaria, Hepatitis B and C within the first half of 2005.

2 Intensive R&D will be conducted along public-private divide to

optimize the effectiveness of locally produced Test Kits.

3 The Local manufacture of a plant-derived drug (Nicosin/Hemoxin) for

the management of sickle cell anaemia will commence this year. This is

a joint partnership between Government and an American Company

(Xechem International Inc).


C. Biotechnology Programme

4. Sequestered Centres of Excellence in Biotech R&D being

established in selected Universities and Research Institutes.

5. Capacity Building in Taxonomy and Systematic in partnership

with the United Nations University, Institute of Natural

Resources of Africa is on-going.

6. Six Zonal Biotechnology Development Centres to stimulate the development of Market-driven Bio-entrepreneurship being set up in the Six major ecological zones in the country. Two of the Centres have started functioning.


D. SHEDA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMPLEX (SHESTCO) FACILITIES (CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE)

SHESTCO is home to the Advanced Physics, Chemistry and Biotechnology Laboratories all of which are serving as Centres of Excellence. The National Mathematical Centre (Centre of Excellence) is located next door to SHESTCO.

The Diagnostic Test Kits Manufacturing Plant and the Anti-Sickle Cell Anaemia Drug Manufacturing Plant are both located at SHESTCO. This will promote close collaboration between researchers and industry.


D. SHEDA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMPLEX (SHESTCO) FACILITIES (CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE)

Gamma Irradiation Facility (in partnership with Framotome) at

SHESTCO will be commissioned in December, 2005 and

will promote food security by reducing post-harvest losses.

The plant will also improve primary health care through

radio-sterilization of medical devices, pharmaceutical and

cosmetic products and packages. It will also improve the

quality of cable and wire products, plastics, natural rubber

through radiation – induced cross-linking and improvement

of their mechanical, electrical and thermal properties etc.


E. Commercialization of Selected R&D Findings (On-Going)

Food and agriculture

Indigenous health products

Chemical/Leather products

Energy (renewable)

Machinery (multiple types) etc


F. ENERGY MIX

With her protracted energy problems, Nigeria is determined to diversify her energy mix through multiple capacity building activities. In addition to oil and gas, hydro-power, for generating electricity, there are other options also:-nuclear, solar, coal, wind, biomass, hydrogen fuel cell, wave and tidal. Some Sequestered Centres of Excellence are in place or being developed for some of these energy options.


G. Miscellaneous R&D and Production ActivitiesScience Equipment Development Institutes with capacity for producing over 350 scientific equipment for primary, secondary and tertiary education are in place. Products include Primary Science Kits and Technology Kits for Secondary Schools. Public – Private partnerships desired.

Various engineering infrastructure upgrading and modernization activities are on-going. Multi-sectoral modern engineering design and fabrication projects especially for empowering S&T-based SMEs are being promoted. Partnerships desired


G. Miscellaneous R&D and Production ActivitiesValue-adding resource-based technologies with many commercialisable R&D findings – generated by Research Organizations and S&T Development Centres. Commercialisation activities being intensified. Partnership desired.

About USD 200 million provided by Nigerian banks through a Small and Medium Industries Equity Investment Schemes (SMIEIS) available for promoting development of SMEs. SMEs Development Agency also set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria.


Policy frameworks to promote the accelerated growth and development of viable R&D-friendly, S&T-based SMEs are in the offing. These SMEs will embrace ethics and challenges of global competitiveness in national priority project. Domestic and International Partnerships required.The Approach Being Adopted to Promote Technopreneurship involves:

i) Technology Incubation Centres (being reformed);ii) Establishment of Science and Technology Parks through Public -

Private Partnerships (Pioneer ones have commenced);iii) Need to enhance patronage of Export Promotion

Zone manufacturing operations; andiv) Legislation to provide internationally competitive

incentives and fiscal measures to attract domestic and

international investors for high tech companies are being provided.

H. The Place for Technopreneurship

I. SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER FOLLOW-UP ACTION

Need to study possible Traditional African Cultures and 21st Century S&T Culture Mismatches. To create S&T-friendly African societies, we need to aggressively develop educational processes for African children and youths to enable them effectively compete in the 21st century science-driven world.

Urgent need to promote partnerships to develop and use readily available materials as basic teaching aids for use in scientific observation, deduction and confirmatory experimentation at primary school level to demystify science and encourage attitudinal change. The Primary Science Kits and Technology Kits for Secondary Schools produced in Nigeria need private sector and NGO partnerships.

I. SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER FOLLOW-UP ACTION– Cont’d

Promote the following capacity building partnerships aggressively in a focused manner across public-private, and domestic-international divides.

S&T professionals need to learn more effective ways of communicating S&T issues to non S&T professional stakeholders extensively deploying the tools of ICTs.

Accelerated production of a critical mass of S&T-based, R&D-friendly SMEs linked to Sequestered Centres of R&D Excellence.

Extensive training of African Researchers on technical proposal writing to access the global pool of R&D funds in priority problem areas.

I. SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER FOLLOW-UP ACTION– Cont’d

Promote national and sub-regional Techno-Expositions in Africa to popularize the embracing of value-adding entrepreneurial skills and thus facilitate synergies between large and small S&T-based firms.

Intensive development of domestic capabilities in modern machine design and building for use by S&T-based SMEs in Africa.

Creating opportunities for accessing special venture and development funds to stimulate the growth and development of modern SMEs in Africa.

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