FG must show commitment to research, development ― Prof Tomori

Former President, Nigeria Academy of Sciences and Professor of virology, Prof Oyewale Tomori, has said only sustained involvement and investment in research and development by the federal government can place Nigeria on the path of evidence-based scientific innovations.

Professor Tomori said the government must dedicate itself to the service to the people and jettison person interest through continuity of programmes and policies that promote the national interest, not much can be attained.

The professor of virology spoke on national preparedness on vaccine production, on Thursday, on Channels television.

He noted that as the world is faced with the challenge of its ability to meet the demand of coronavirus, as it mutates with the adequate vaccine, Nigeria has the capacity to respond to the challenge in Africa and the world’s only if sustained efforts are present in the area of research and development.

According to him, African countries are not United in spite of their closeness and similar needs because each country, would do the bidding of her colonial country on demand especially where aids are involved.

“We are not United in Africa, I am sorry to say, let us talk about that one. Our colonial masters are still drawing all the plans. If Togo for instance wants to buy vaccines from Nigeria, and it needs the money, and France provided the money, France is going to tell her where to buy. So all this talk about African Unity is thrown to the wind.

“We need our own independence, in Africa, to say that all the policies we are going to state, we will all abide by it. Am happy about African Continental Free Trade Agreement. Those are the things we need to talk about.

He said the continent has the capacity to boost vaccine production only if it provides the necessary infrastructure of steady power supply, water, and conducive environment.

“There are stages and the different parts that we can get involved. What is your talent make use of that and you can get it as time goes on.

“Like I said, it is not the people, it is the environment. I will keep stressing about this. Whatever it is, the environment was there for my generation to do what it did. To become what we became.

“I never left this country, I was out for three or six months but never left this country. All of my studies were done in this country.

This generation is smarter than my generation. Give them one-tenth of what we have, Nigeria will be loaning money to China and those people in Europe will be begging us for our own vaccines, that is in all we need, good governance in place.

Recall that when Nigerian Go outside we excel. It is not Nigerian, it is the environment we found ourselves. There are basic things that the government must do to make the place useful to our people.

“The viral vaccine is a joint venture between the federal government and May&Baker. That is the way to go.

“Take the issue of the internet, for example, it took 25 years of the United States American support to the internet before it became what it us, now they are reaping the benefits. Sustained investment in research and development is what we need, not half hazard.

“Not changing it one government and another government coming in. The problem with vaccine production in Nigeria can be mailed down to change of government. When the government starts something Build on it. Do not say APC or PDP. It is our country we are talking about, you elected to serve the people,” Professor Tomori stated.

Tribune Online can confirm that the government has proposed over N100bn on research and development across 430 ministries Departments and Agencies in the proposed 2022 budget.

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FG must show commitment to research, development ― Prof Tomori