Research committee submits report to FG

*Says, documents enrich with innovative ideas to drive knowledge economy

By Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja

The Federal Government has received the draft executive bill for the establishment of the National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF), initiated by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) boost research activities in the country.

Receiving the draft bill on behalf of the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, in Abuja on Wednesday, TETFund Executive Secretary of Professor Suleiman Bogoro, noted that bill is enriched with ideas that help in the establishing a national research and development foundation that would coordinate research efforts in the country to usher it into a knowledge-based economy.

He commended the committee for the efforts adding that the foundation would go a long way to ensure that Nigeria’s future is driven by knowledge.

Bogoro who stressed the need to rejig and reflect over the issue of governance in government and academic institutions said, many times the area of appropriate governance at all levels has failed the nation.

He said the most competitive nations are those that have recognised and placed innovation and creativity as the lead element that drives society.

“The greatest of thinkers in history were those that drove the direction of their nations; the greatest of thinkers do things beyond the average persons.

” The Ministry of Education is very appreciative of the great job you people have done. It is on behalf of the minister I am receiving this document and I know it is a well packaged document,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, Prof Auwalu Yadudu, said the proposed document contains massive innovative ideas that would propel the knowledge economy in Nigeria.

He commended prof Bogoro, for putting in place the committee and for his vision for R&D, said the country stands to reap bountifully when the bill is passed into law.

He said, “This is a bill which seeks to establish a National Research and Development Foundation to institutionalise, mainstream and commercialise research and development; promote innovation and support enterprise development for job and wealth creation for the knowledge-driven economy. This is the key thing’’.