Nigerian varsities lack research agenda – Ex-VC

By Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu

Abuja

Former Vice Chancellor of University of Abuja, Prof Gambo Laraba Abdullahi, has observed that the key function of analytical chemistry in universities is to conduct research that could lead to the advancement of knowledge.
It is also to contribute directly or indirectly to economic progress and the quality of life for the societies where the universities are founded in particular and the world in general.
Abdullahi, said the Nigerian system was yet to key into the global trend that could revolutionised crude production into high yield proficiency, competitiveness, productivity, sufficiency and development through research and development.
The research, he further asserted, is also mainly conceived in terms of the number of publications and career development and tends to have little significance in the international knowledge network.
Abdullahi disclosed that several reports on Nigeria and Africa, showed that few institutions produce research of world class, particularly on analytical chemistry and to a large extent, an application of already developed methods, techniques and instrumentation.
The university don alluded to the fact that there is the absence of clear national research agenda which ought to be put in place to provide a platform from which institutions.
“There is often the usual call for linkages between the knowledge sector and industries. But, in Nigeria, there are relatively few large industries that are innovation-based and yet the few that exist are based on foreign R & D activities.
“The productive sector is mainly micro and small enterprises which are informal. The public sector which provides the total funding for the research establishment does not to any significant extent utilise the research output.
“There is hardly channel of information for outputs or even research demands between the producer of the research and the supposed user.

 

Leave a Reply