By Sahelian Times
The Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, has commended the initiative of the federal government of introducing a special programme that will boost economic buoyancy through research and innovation in joint partnership between the academia and industry.
He spoke in Kano on Monday, 30th August, 2021 during an interactive session between members of the University Community and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation who visited the University as part of the sensitization of the members of the academia on the new policy framework.
Professor Abbas, in particular noted that Bayero University is very much ready for the programme which he described as a good policy that would launch Nigeria into the comity of developed nations if implemented judiciously and with adequate funding.
According to him, Nigeria had all it takes to prosper and grow, but poor funding and lack of political will and commitment from various stakeholders has been the major problem that usually crippled a well conceptualise policy and programme.
Already, the Vice Chancellor disclosed that BUK had established many research centres pointing out that given adequate funding; it will certainly help in producing excellent research work that will help in bailing the society out of its quagmire.
He particularly expressed happiness on the introduction of this policy of providing avenue for collaboration between the academia, industry and the government which he said was what obtained in many countries that are now developed.
Earlier, the Minister of Science, Technology and Inniovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said the purpose of his visit was to interact with members of the University Community to explain the policy frame work of the new initiative.
Dr. Onu noted that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari was very much concern about the future development of the country, this informed the adoption of the National Science, Technology and Innovation Roadmap (NSTIR 2017-2030). He disclosed that the policy aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s economic growth and sustainable development.
“For our journey to prosperity as a nation, we must come together and work in close collaboration between university, research institute and industry,” said the Minister. He noted that, the present administration is very much committed to footing the country in a very sound footing, so that in years to come we shall reap the dividends by paving the path of prosperity.
During the meeting, Vice Chancellor of Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Professor Shehu Alhaji Musa and his counterpart from Yusuf Maitama Sule University Professor Mukhtar Atiku Kurawa said the initiative is a welcome development which must be fully supported by all and sundry.
Also, two former National Presidents of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Abdullahi Sule-Kano now, serving as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Development) in BUK and Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge, applauded the initiative but quickly added that government must commit enough resources in order to achiev the desire objectives.
In particular, Dr. Fagge noted that this policy had been the stand of ASUU since time immemorial and said he was in particular delighted that the government had now see reason in adopting the concept of triple helix model of development.
