Stakeholders task FG on research, education funding

Stakeholders in the education sector have appealed to the government to give priority attention to education funding and scientific research for the sustainable development of the country.

Speaking at the first distinguished lecture of the Faculty of Applied Sciences of Kola Daisi University, Ibadan (KDU-I), Prof. Adekunle Bakare, lamented poor funding of the sector by successive governments.

Bakare, who was the guest lecturer, listed the challenges confronting scientific research in Nigeria as inadequate funding, inadequate number of research personnel, lack of adequate skills in contemporary scientific methods, and disconnection between researchers and industries, among others.

Bakare, a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, said the government must show serious commitment to funding research.

He said: “Nigeria must increase its budgetary allocation to science and research from the current 0.14 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to at least one per cent in the next 10 years. There is a need for deepening national commitment to scientific research. The young researchers must be incentivised through sponsorship for post-graduate programmes. There is a need for partnership and collaboration from within and outside the country for competitiveness.”

The Vice-Chancellor, KDU-I, Prof. Adeniyi Olatunbosun, said there is a need for government at all levels to increase their budgetary allocation to education, noting that the nation can only attain growth and development with proper funding of the sector.

‘’So, I will call on the government at all levels to devote a substantial part of their budget to supporting education. Also, all stakeholders in the private sector, who are the proprietors of institutions, should do more in ensuring that the educational sector is supported financially to be able to attain greater development and for a sustainable development approach,’’ Olatunbosun said.

On her part, Prof. Olajumoke Morenikeji of the faculty of science, at the University of Ibadan, advocated a complete overhaul of the nation’s education system.

“The Federal Government is not funding research enough. What we need for research is not even there. There is no equipment. There is no power supply. There is no funding. There is no support. At the university, you are just on your own.”