Brig
Gen S. Momah
Hon Minister, Science and Technology.
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Nigerian Government has diversified focus on research and has put in place a
comprehensive structure for Research and Development. Applied and basic scientific
research plays a fundamental role in the evolution and sustenance of a viable capacity to
generate production. Because of the pervasiveness of human activity by Science and
Technology, Federal Government created 1979, the ministry of Science and Technology with
the mandate for S & T policy formulation, co-ordination and promotion of Science and
Technological research in the country.
In 1986, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology published the National policy on
Science and Technology. This document, which was launched in 1987, presented the policy
framework with the aim of providing direction and co-ordination for scientific and
technological activities, towards specific goal. This includes the development of
manpower, creation of a science culture in the society, intensification of basic and
applied search and the application of research findings and developed products to various
areas of national endeavour such as Agriculture, Health Care, Industry Defence and
Security, as well as the provision of employment.
Government, over the years, has invested handsomely in the establishment of research
institutes to implement research objectives in Agriculture, medicine, industry and natural
science.
There are at present over thirty (30) national research institutes of which eighteen (18)
are in the Agricultural sciences while the others are shared between the industrial and
health sciences.
Brig Gen S. Momah
Hon Minister, Science and Technology.
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