Nigeria & BioTech

[Dada, Oluwatosin Olubunmi]

In reference to the Vanguard News page title 'FG tasked on biotech and molecular research' Aug 11, 2009. Do we really have competent hands to drive this technology?

[Ola, Idowu Safiriyu]

Yes, Nigeria do have competent manpower in biotech and nanotech both domiciled and outside the country. What we lack are the facilities for these manpower to operate in Nigeria. We cannot talk of biotech where power is epileptic and consumables cannot be sourced readily. All these are not beyond the country to attain but the political will has to there. It is pretty hard to convince our political class that scientific research is like oil exploration; you dont expect an instant reward. May GOD give us the will.

sidowu

[Dada, Oluwatosin Olubunmi]

sidowu. As much as I agree with you in terms of Nigerian's smartness, I am not sure if the science (Bio & Nano) exists in our country. I mean the stage we are in research does not show we are there yet. The major problem you have mentioned. only if our leaders would realize that one day oil exploration is not the answer to national development. I agree we have smart people, but talking research is beyond smartness. What is the essence of smartness when there is no active research that meets the world standard. I read lots of Nigerian authored research articles, very few (1%) meets the minimum world standard. I do not totally blame the scientists they can only perform to the level of available technology, funds, and information. Our government has failed science in Nigeria, I do not foresee a formidable moves by our politicians because almost all of them do not understand what  we are talking about. So it is hard for them to see reasons to fund research unless there's opportunity to tithe the grants. So at this stage what can we do? The answer is now in the hands of scientific community. That is why I like organizations like NICOYS. Maybe if we stop looking at the government for hope, science might begin to come alive in Nigeria. Research does not need to happen under government institution or universities. I do not mean privatization but things can be done.

[AYODEJI, ABEY JOSHUA]

From my own perspective i Believe that as youths we should use the available resources to achieve what we want. I am a student of chemistry but  I had research partners who are also student colleagues an we utilize the available apparatus in the laboratory in carrying out various research that was in the University of Ado-Ekiti. As youths we got to make things happen for real and we can only achieve this by going extra mile in dedicating our time in making sure we revive technology in the mind of every youth out there and make every one speak the language of technology.

[Dada, Oluwatosin Olubunmi]

Ayo, I like your spirit. I strongly agree with you; we all need to do our part in bringing this nation back on track. please let's bring our youths to this forum and begin to build the part to research resurrection in our country. However, it is very important that we are at the same pace with the rest of the world. I wonder what original contribution are we making to the global scientific knowledge when our ideas and findings are not in phase with the current scientific quest. The point I try to make is that it is hard to be in phase with rest of the world when we do not have the required infrastructure.

It is exciting to know you are a chemistry student. I am a chemist as well, specialized in analytical chemistry. I hope to see a chemistry corner on this web where we can share ideas and help one another solve problems.

what type of research are you involved?

Tosin Dada