The Director, National Centre for Energy Research and Development at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Prof. Paulinus Ugwuoke, has said unless adequate equipment and funds are made available, novelty or breakthrough in research will remain a mirage.
Ugwuoke said novelty and excellence in research were significantly dependent on the quality of research equipment and available funds.
He said this at the 2nd International Conference on Science and Sustainable Development held at the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.
Ugwuoke, who presented the first keynote address entitled, “Advancement of Science and Technology through Novel Research,” at the conference decried the lack of research equipment, financial resources and human capital in research institutions and universities.
“Provision of relevant research equipment for relevant research areas targeted at the country’s needs and provision of sufficient funds for research are critically essential to promote novel research,” he said.
He argued that science, technology and innovation drove economic growth and, therefore, needed support, adding that proposed strategies for advancement of research and innovation included encouraging excellent and relevant scientific research in the research institutes; strengthening the link between science, economy and society to encourage innovation; as well as ensuring availability of human resources for research and innovation activities.
Provision of high-quality research equipment and infrastructure, he said, were the main preconditions, not only for good quality scientific research, but also for technological and innovative development.
In her submission, the second keynote speaker, Dr. Nana Browne Klutse, a Senior Research Scientist at Remote Sensing and Climate Centre, Ghana Space and Technology Institute, emphasised the need to integrate the social, economic and environmental dimensions of development, when carrying out novel research.
Klutse, who spoke on “Climate Change and Tradeoffs: Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals,” warned of the consequences of change in global temperature and what the continuous release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere meant for Africa in the area of temperature, ecosystems, rainfall, drought, water stress, agriculture and sea-level rise.
“As we research, we should be thinking of how to improve the environment,” she advised.
In his remarks, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Shalom Chinedu, noted that the institution organised the international conference as a veritable platform to encourage more partnership in research efforts aimed at promoting sustainability.
Prof. Chinedu, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aaron Atayero, said, “As a university committed to research in the area of science and technology, we have established several vibrant research clusters to advance research in relevant areas and promote technology oriented initiatives that will offer improved healthcare delivery, education, business, and governance among others.”
