ABU VC urges establishment of Scientific Council of Nigeria

Prof. Kabiru Bala, the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, has called for the establishment of Scientific Council of Nigeria to streamline and regulate scientific researches and applications to boost security and socio-economic development.

The vice-chancellor made the appeal during the 55th Annual Conference of Science Association of Nigeria (SAN) at ABU, Zaria, on Tuesday.

The conference has “The Role of Science and Technology in the Enhancement of Global Security and Socio-Economic Development” as its theme.

Bala, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Ahmed-Doko Ibrahim, advocated that SAN should have representation on the board of government agencies regulating the production, distribution and use of all science-based products in Nigeria.

Bala also suggested that the next SAN conference should witness more participants from industries, government agencies, private establishments and the international community.

The vice-chancellor described the need to nurture and create an enabling environment where scientific researches thrived as imperative in any educational establishment.

According to him, ABU would remain at the forefront in matters regarding scientific innovations despite challenges of funding and government bureaucracy.

“Just as few weeks ago, our students excelled as global champions in the recently organised Huawei ICT Global Competition held in China in May this year.

“These students were trained here in ABU, Zaria, and not anywhere else.

“This shows the quantum of scientific knowledge inherent in our own people and what is needed is the will and resources to present them to the world,” he said.

Bala noted that one of the crucial problems facing the Nigerian scientific community was the translation of scientific researches into practicable applications.

He, therefore, commended TetFund and other key stakeholders for making funds available for quality researches through its National Research Fund (NRF) and Institutions-Based Research (IBR) campaigns.

Earlier, the National President, Science Association of Nigeria (SAN), Prof. Hamza Abba, described the conference theme as apt and timely considering the importance of science and technology in enhancing global security and socio-economic development.

He explained that the association had, in its 65 years of existence, made significant impact on the growth and development of Nigeria’s scientific space.

Abba also said the annual conference was to avail Nigerian Scientific community the opportunity to interact, network, discuss and share ideas on issues of interest in the scientific clime.