How science, technology can transform Nigeria

How science, technology can transform
Nigeria
on december 11, 2013 at 11:54 am in viewpoint
CREATING jobs, enhancing economic
competitiveness, tackling security challenges and
providing quality food for the ever growing
population are the teething issues slowing down the
country’s quest for an accelerated development.
Solutions on how to tackle and address these
challenges were succinctly captured recently by
Prof. Turner Isoun in his book entitled Why run
before learning to walk which chronicled activities of
the science and technology sector in Nigeria
between 2000 and 2007 when he presided over the
affairs of the ministry as minister.
The launch of the 630-page book was witnessed by
a cream of professionals, especially from the
academia, the political class, key players in the
economy and members of the international
community, was adjudged by all as a huge success
for various reasons.
One of which was the fact that in achieving the feat
narrated in the book, Isoun took some bold steps,
broke away from convention method of thinking
within the box. According to Prof. Nimi Briggs,
former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port
Harcourt: “Isoun broke the box to achieve results.”
Another fact was that three days after the launch,
the book sold out. This is unprecedented in
Nigeria’s history considering that the book is about
science, technology and innovation and not an
autobiography of a dead or living politician, a
business mogul or a money bag.
The launch was devoid of the usual fanfare where
praise singers and people come to glorify
themselves or others and not issues that are typical
of such events in the country yet it was a success
because those that matter the most, especially the
sector to which the book spoke to, were present.
The book was a success not because of who was
or was not present at the launch but as a result of
the character of Prof. Isoun.
Isoun as described by various speakers at the
launch is first and foremost an achiever, a scholar
of repute, a dedicated leader who carries along his
colleagues, one who believes in the efficacy of
science and technology and a firm believer in the
ability of Nigerian scientists to deliver.
No wonder therefore it is on record that he served
the longest as the Minister of Science and
Technology, ranking him as one of the ministers to
have served the longest in the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
So how did he break the box?
Isoun presided over the science and technology
sector in Nigeria when the nation began the
deployment of high technologies to fast-track
economic development. Such technologies include
space which has a whole chapter dedicated to it in
the 10 chapter book, nuclear, biotechnology and
ICT.
“When we started the space programme for the
country, the question everyone even those from the
West were asking us is, why are we going into
space when we cannot solve our common
problems; people are hungry, etc. But that didn’t
stop us. People of all cultures are equally endowed
by the Almighty Creator, and have severally
contributed over time to what we refer today as
science and technology. Therefore, science,
technology and innovation had never been the
preserve of any community. Thus, over time,
nations, communities or peoples world over, with
passion to develop and excel had always copied the
best ideas from those who had temporarily been
ahead of them, internalised those ideas, improved
on those ideas and forge ahead,” Isoun noted.
Testimonies
Dr Kevin Oruma, Executive Director of the Kenya
based African Technology Policy Studies Network
said that the launch of the book by Isoun has
changed the global discuss on how Africa is viewed
by other continents.
“The book is a clear testimony of an African
scientist who has demonstrated the zeal that Africa
and Africans can do it. He even went further to
document his participation in the policy process;
this is uncommon and should be acknowledged,”
Oruma said.
For Prof. Oyewale Tomori, the president,
NigerianAcademy of Science, with the book Isoun
has demonstrated eloquently that “we can employ
high technology as a strategic tool for our
development.”
He went further to add: “To continue to use high
technology as the wheel of our development, all
aspect of our nation, from political will, commitment,
and attitude must run in tandem. No aspect must be
learning to walk, while the others are running.”
Tomori said that with the book, Why run, before
learning to walk, Isoun has epitomised the very
reason for setting up the Nigerian Academy of
Science.
Dr David Okongwu, a former director general of the
National Office for Technology Acquisition and
Promotion, NOTAP, the book is not only a
masterpiece but a tour de force.
“One of the beauties of this book is that it is not
fiction or simply an eye witness account. It is a
report by an author who had a vision to initiate a
policy, articulate and develop it, and had the
sagacity to have colleagues and government share
in the vision; supervised the successful execution
of the programme and had the results fully
documented.”
Okongwu who reviewed the book noted that it
demonstrated and justified the great need for
Nigeria to do things differently and adapt a
paradigm shift in future efforts in technology
transfer and on science, technology and innovation.
“What comes out quite powerfully from this book is
the issue of our understanding of conventional
wisdom and the global politics of science,” he
added.
Prof. Soji Adelaja, a distinguish professor in land
policy at the MSU said that the book was a
testimony to the visionary effort by Isoun to place
Nigerian science into the future. “In my opinion, we
spend too much time thinking that the solution to our
issues is to go back to solving problems that are no
longer relevant. This book, Why run before learning
to walk suggests otherwise.” Adelaja said.
Prof. Nimi Briggs, emeritus professor and former
vice chancellors of the University of Port Harcourt,
said that the book was a road map Nigeria needed
to try having witnessed failure in the implementation
of various developmental policies initiated by
government since independence.
Briggs used the occasion of the book launch to
stress the need for government to scale-up its
commitment to education in science and technology
as well as create conducive environment for
research to support industrialisation.
Was anyone surprised therefore that a book of such
calibre and stunning title Why run before learning to
walk was authored by Prof. Isoun? Then it is
important to refresh our minds that Isoun has
cumulative experience spanning over 50 years of
immersion in the sciences as a university
professor, special adviser, vice chancellor, minister
and above all as the first editor of Africa’s
prestigious journal, Discovery and innovation.
He is also an avid reader and according to the
adage – you have to be a reader to be able to lead
– and a strong advocate of the need to redefine
what university education is all about. “
Mr. ABUTU ADOLE, a journalist, wrote from Abuja.