The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a knowledge-based economy powered by Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), with a renewed focus on translating research outcomes into commercially viable products.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, stated this on Wednesday at the opening of the 7th Annual Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) in Abuja.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the two-day conference is themed “From Research to Market: The Making of Knowledge-based Economies.”
Represented by Dr. Olugbenga Fadigbe, Udeh said that in a rapidly evolving global innovation landscape, Nigeria must move beyond knowledge creation to deliberate and sustained commercialisation of research anchored on STI.
The minister explained that driving the commercialisation of research products was central to his vision upon assuming office.
“At the ministry level, we remain committed to strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem by promoting demand-driven research, supporting technology incubation and transfer.
“We are committed to encouraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and fostering homegrown solutions that address national priorities in agriculture, energy, health, infrastructure and industrial development.
“We firmly believe that sustainable development is best achieved when scientific research is linked to clear commercialisation pathways that translate knowledge into market-ready innovations with measurable economic and social value,” Udeh said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, said no nation could attain sustainable development without deliberately linking research outputs to productive enterprise.
Represented by Mr. Auwal Mohammed, Director for Economic Growth, Bagudu noted that “a knowledge-based economy thrives where ideas are nurtured, innovations are commercialised, and research findings are effectively communicated to policymakers, entrepreneurs and industry.”
He added that the Federal Government recognises the critical role of STI in national development and remains committed to strengthening partnerships with institutions such as NAS.
In her keynote address, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Founder of The Chair Centre Group, decried what she described as the growing disconnect between university science faculties and the marketplace.
Awosika said research conducted by science-based industries should be directly linked to specific university departments to enhance relevance and impact.
“If we do not intentionally build structures that facilitate our ability to link up the market and university, we can never benefit from research, if not research papers that carry solutions will remain on the shelves,” she said.
According to her, Nigeria possesses innovative minds, growing interest and numerous societal challenges that can be transformed into economic assets, noting that science fundamentally exists to solve real-world problems.
She further suggested that scientists should be tasked with identifying societal challenges and partnering with industries interested in solving them through collaboration, adding that having the right strategy was essential for effective implementation of goals.
Earlier, the President of NAS, Prof. Abubakar Sambo, said for meaningful growth and development to occur, research must go beyond laboratories and academic journals to impact everyday life.
Sambo lamented that despite Nigeria’s rich human capital, vast natural resources and youthful population, the country continues to struggle with inadequate integration of research outcomes into economic growth and development.
“As scientists, policymakers and stakeholders, we must work together to create an environment where research outputs are merged with industrial needs, where innovations find pathways to the market, and where knowledge generates wealth and employment.
“Our goal is to position Nigeria as a hub for scientific excellence and technological advancement in Africa,” he said.
