RESEARCH AND INNOVATION : PANACEA TO AFRICA`S ECONOMIC UNDERDEVELOPMENT

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1 RESEARCH AND INNOVATION : PANACEA TO AFRICA`S ECONOMIC UNDERDEVELOPMENT by Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON, FAAS, FASN,D.SC Former Executive Secretary National Universities Commission BEING TEXT OF THE 12 TH CONVOCATION LECTURE AT THE CONVENAT UNIVERSITY, OTA, OGUN STATE THURSDAY 20 th JULY,

2 MAP OF AFRICA 2

3 KWAME NKRUMAH 3

4 KENNNETH KAUNDA 4

5 JULIUS NYERERE 5

6 PATRICE LUMUMBA 6

7 AFRICA`S TEN LARGEST COUNTRIES BY POPULATION S/N COUNTRY POPULATION(Million) LAND AREA (Km 2 ) Migrants (Net) 1 Nigeria ,902-60,000 2 Ethiopia ,000,430-12,000 3 Egypt ,136 4 DR Congo ,265,639-19,184 5 Tanzania ,943-40,000 6 South Africa ,213, ,000 7 Kenya ,861-10,000 8 Sudan ,774-30,000 9 Uganda ,774-30, Algeria ,387,428-28,000 7

8 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX (HDI) Composite statistics of life expectancy ; Education: Mean years of Schooling, and income per capita 8

9 Trends in Human Development Index (HDI) in Selected Countries ( ) HD I Rank (188 countries) Country Very High Human Development 1 Norway Australia United States United Kingdom Saudi Arabia High Human Development 50 Russian Federation 57 Barbados Malaysia Algeria Tunisia Medium Human Development 106 Botswana Egypt South Africa India Ghana Low Human Development 145 Kenya Pakistan Nigeria Haiti Eritrea Niger

10 GLOBAL COMPETITIVE INDEX Initiative of World Economic Forum The GCI is a set of institutions, policies and factors that determine the level of productivity of a country, condition of public institutions and technical conditions 12 Pillars of Competitiveness 10

11 12 PILLARS OF COMPETITIVENESS Basic Requirements Efficiency Enhancers Innovation and Sophistication Factors 1. Institutions Higher Education and Training Business Sophistication 2. Infrastructure Goods Market Efficiency Research and Development Innovation 3. Macro-Economic Environment Labour Market Efficiency 4. Health and Primary Education Financial Market Development Market size Technological Readiness 11 11

12 GCI 2015 Ranking COUNTRY SWITZERL AND SINGAPO RE NORWAY CHILE MAURITI US SOUTH AFRICA BRAZIL NIGERIA Population (Million) GDP ($Billion) GDP Per Capita ($) 81, , ,775 9, , ,604 1, Health and Primary Education (Of 7) Higher Education and Training (Of 7) Labour Market Efficiency (Of 7) GCI Overall Score s GCI Position 1st 2nd 11th 35th 46th 56 th 75th 124th

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16 Number of Public and Private schools 16

17 WEBOMETRIC RANKING OF WORLD UNIVERSITIES 2012 AFRICA WORLD UNIVERSITY PRESENCE RANK IMPACT RANK OPENNESS RANK EXCELLENCE RANK University of Ibadan Convenant University, Ota Obafemi Awolowo University University of Lagos University of Nigeria University of Port Harcourt University of Agriculture Abeokuta University of Ilorin Ahnadu Bello University Federal University of Technology Owerri Federal University of Technology Akure Federal University of Technology Minna

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22 RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND THEIR MANDATES AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE S/NO. Name Mandate 1. Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) To conduct research into the production and products of oil palm and other palms of economic importance and transfer its research findings to farmers. 2. Forestry Research Institute Mandate to conduct research into all aspects of of Nigeria (FRIN) forestry and forest products utilization. Mandate extended to include research in wildlife, watershed management and agroforestry. 3. Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) Researches are focused on Cocoa, Kola, Cashew, Coffee and Tea. Improvement of the genetic potential, agronomic 22 and husbandry practices, including processing and storage of the crops.

23 RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND THEIR MANDATES AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE S/NO. Name Mandate 4. National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) 5. Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan 6. Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN), Benin City The Institute is responsible for development, collation, evaluation and dissemination of proven agricultural innovations and to research on extension methodologies and policy. in rural life and linkages. Research into maize, kenaf, jute, soil & water management: and Total farming systems for the Ecological zones covered by Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo and Delta States Research into the genetic improvement, production and processing of rubber and other latex producing plants. 23

24 RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND THEIR MANDATES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY S/NO. Name ss 1. National Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT) 2. National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) 3. Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IART) 4. Institute of Agricultural Research and Extension Services (IAR) Mandate to develop the technologies required by the Chemicals industry. Research into the conversion of agricultural, mineral and other raw materials into chemicals. Mandate as a training Centre for the development of middle to high level manpower in science, technology and innovation management to all tiers of government and the private sector. The Institute conducts research on various cereals and legumes e.g. maize, jutes, Keraf and sisal hemp, soil and fertilizer use. Has the mandate of researching into the genetic improvement of sorghum, cowpea, cotton, groundnut and sunflow. 24

25 RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND THEIR MANDATES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY S/NO. Name Mandate 5. National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services 6. National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) 7. National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) Key mandate of the institution are: Planning and coordination of agricultural extension. Promotion of dissemination of agricultural research results and technologies. Has a broad mandate of conducting applied research on food animal species as well as forage and to develop appropriate technologies in breeding and reproduction. Conducts research into fruits, vegetables, their processing, preservation and development of indigenous ornamentals. 25

26 RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND THEIR MANDATES MEDICAL RESEARCH INTITUTES S/NO. Name Mandate 1. Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) To conduct research into communicable diseases of public health importance in the country, non- communicable diseases prevalent in the country. 2. Institute of Child Health (ICH) Conducts research in collaboration with many local and international institutions on child health related enquiries. 3. The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) Mandated to carry out research and development of drugs and pharmaceutical substances from locally available natural resources; 26

27 RESEARCH CONT D Universities and research institutes have always had collaborative research (symbiotic); It has also encouraged the share of resources, staff and materials; There is always a free flow of staff from institutes to universities and vice versa. 27

28 INNOVATION...the process of making changes to something established by introducing something new. radical or incremental changes to products, processes or services. 28

29 INNOVATION CONT D Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow. - William Pollard One of the only ways to get out of a tight box is to invent your way out. - Jeff Bezos But innovation comes from people meeting up in the hallways or calling each other at 10:30 at night with a new idea, or because they realized something that shoots holes in how we've been thinking about a problem. - Steve Jobs 29

30 ENTREPRENEURSHIP The capacity, willingness to develop, organise and manage a business venture along with any of its risks in order to make profits The entrepreneurial spirit is characterised by Innovation and risk taking. 30

31 ALIKO DANGOTE 31

32 FOLORUNSHO ALAKIJA 32

33 WHY ENTREPRENEURSHIP? Unemployment:A serious shortage of employment opportunities; Choice: Enables the youth to choose his own clients and projects; Novelty: Offers him the chance to be challenged in new ways; Autonomy: Enables him to set his own schedule and make the rules; Provides him an opportunity to work collaboratively with business partners; Gives him a sense of pride and self accomplishment; and Allows him to reap the benefits of his own creative ideas. 33

34 ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONT D ENTRENCHMENT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES The National Council on Education (NCE) during its calabar (2006): 53 rd meeting in o Tertiary Education Supervisory Agencies to produce appropriate guide and training manuals for the teaching of Entrepreneurship; o Presidential Directive to introduce Entrepreneurship Education. 34

35 ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONT D ENTRENCHMENT PROCESS Implementation Committee on Entrenchment of Entrepreneurship Education in all Nigerian Universities (ICEEENU); o EEd General Studies and B. Sc. (Entrepreneurial Studies). In 2012, all State-owned universities were given a grant to establish functional Entrepreneurship Development Centres. 35

36 ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONT D ANNUAL NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK (ANEW) A one week series of events to be run annually; Stakeholders: Industry practitioners, Professional bodies, Academics and Students to enhance the development of knowledge-based enterprises (social and for profit); 36 Promotes vibrant and informed entrepreneurs to transform their environment/community through creativity and/or innovative ideas.

37 ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONT D NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESOURCE AND KNOWLEDGE CENTRE (NERKC) NERKC empowers students and graduates with entrepreneurial knowledge and skills for self-employment, economic independence and social security; Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was jointly signed between the Knowledge Institute (KI), Exeter (USA), AIA Global and NUC on the 8th of December, 2015 with the commitment to work as partners 37 for the development of NERKC project.

38 ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONT D The NERKC Programs and content include: Virtual incubator/accelerator/resources Network; Virtual Entrepreneurial Learning Center (VELC) for e-learning/self-learning programs and certifications; Resource portals to support faculty and students of participating HEIs; Resource portals to support youths and other stakeholders in entrepreneurship development; and Virtual forums/chat-rooms to facilitate inter-student and other stakeholder information sharing 38

39 AFRICA CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE (ACE) Nigerian Beneficiary Institutions of the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) S/N Africa Centre of Excellence Lead Institution and Country Discipline 1. ACE for Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria Agriculture 2. ACE for Dryland Agriculture Bayero University Kano, Nigeria Agriculture 3. ACE for Food Technology and Benue State University, Makurdi Agriculture Research Nigeria 4. ACE for Genomics of Infectious Redeemer s University, Ede Health Diseases Nigeria 5. ACE for Neglected Tropical Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Health Diseases and Forensic Nigeria Biotechnology 6. ACE for Phytomedicine and University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria Health Development 7. ACE for Reproductive Health University of Benin, Benin, Health and Innovation Nigeria 8. ACE for Materials African University of Science and STEM Technology, Abuja, Nigeria 9. ACE for Oil Field Chemicals University of Port-Harcourt, STEM 39 Nigeria 10. ACE for Science, Technology and Knowledge Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife, Nigeria STEM

40 REFORM To make changes or alter in order to improve an institution or a practice by removing or correcting faults, defects and /or problems; Tools for reform: Policies, Laws, Sanctions. 40

41 REFORM EFFORTS Policy on University Education University research shall be relevant to the nation s developmental goals; Inculcation of community spirit in the students through projects and actionable researches; and Allocation of not less than 60% of the places to science in conventional universities and not less than 80% in the Universities of Technology and Agriculture. 41

42 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE Policy and research endeavors should address national needs; Universities should develop robust research policies to encourage good research culture; Collaborative research (symbiotic); Leveraging ICT to bridge the gaps in research and learning; Support ongoing effort towards the establishment of a national science plan and national science foundation; 42

43 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE The need for efficient data capture and collation for planning and prioritizing; Private sector involvement in the development and operation of entrepreneurial centres & research clusters; Opportunities for internship position; Aadequate funding, monitoring to ensure sustainability of research efforts; and Funding! Funding!! Funding!!! 43

44 AREAS THAT NEED RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP Agriculture; Biotechnology Research; Health; Energy; Nanotechnology; Water Resources; Mines and Materials development; Information and Communication Technology (ICT); Raw Materials and Manufacturing; and Industrial Research, Development and Production 44

45 We can not prepare the future for our children but we can prepare our children for the future. 45

46 ON WINGS OF EAGLES 46

47 ON WINGS OF EAGLES On Wings of Eagles The break of dawn, the start of day, An eagle flies, pursues its prey, With wings outstretched and talons primed, It won t be stopped, it won t be stayed A ray of sunshine hits its beak, A steely glare, no sign of meek, Its feathers bright and fully preened, The force of all its strength is seen It soars above the hill and dale, With a confidence that says I cannot fail, This magnificent bird of prey says I am the king of birds. I rule the skies So ride on the winds of destiny And write your page of history Oluwatosin Thomas Okojie

48 REFERENCES Africa Union (AU) Report 2014 Federal Ministry of Education Unpublished Report 2010 Natural History of Africa 2015 Okojie J.A and Okali D.U.U (1993) Lost Crops of Nigeria: Implications for food security. Conference Proceedings series No 3 University of Agriculture Abeokuta Okojie J.A. (1994) Once upon a forest: A master piece of creation UNAAB INAUGURAL Lecture Series No 1 The National Council on Education (NCE) Report, Calabar 2006 United Nation Development Programme(UNDP) Report 2015 Webometric Ranking of World Universities 2012 World Economic Forum

49 Thank you and God Bless 49