Leveraging EU Partnership To Boost Innovation, Research In Nigeria

The Nigerian government has taken significant steps to boost its science, technology and innovation through a robust partnership with the European Union (EU) aimed at strengthening investment in research and development   for mutual benefits.

This was the focus of a high-level meeting between Nigeria, led by the Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji and the EU delegation led by EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS Samuela Isopi in Abuja on Thursday.

Nnaji buttressed the fact that innovation and research are key to progress, adding that the Ministry is committed to fostering joint research centers in areas like renewable energy and climate-smart agriculture.

He said “by leveraging the expertise and resources of our European partners, we aim to drive technological advancements and address shared regional challenges. Additionally, we are keen to collaborate on establishing innovation hubs to support startups and SMEs in fields like artificial intelligence.

“Our Ministry will focus on building capacity, enhancing research infrastructure, and fostering collaborations with European research institutions. By leveraging our strengths in renewable energy, biotechnology, and space research, we can drive significant advancements benefiting both Nigeria and the European Union.

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“The Erasmus and Horizon programmes enhance educational and research exchanges between Nigeria and Europe. We are committed to increasing Nigerian participation in these programmes by streamlining the application process and providing dedicated support. This will enable more of our talents to access these valuable opportunities,” he said.

This collaboration may find the perfect ground during the upcoming EU Innovation Forum in Lagos between 8th and 9th of July, 2024, where Nigerian and European innovators, entrepreneurs, and policymakers will exchange ideas and explore synergies.

According to the Head of the EU delegation, Isopi, the bilateral agreement between EU and Nigeria is a milestone and the negotiation is crucial because science, technology and innovation are key to the development of key sectors such as energy, agriculture and food security.

She expressed   EU’s readiness to support Nigeria to boost research and innovation, stressing that the EU- Nigeria innovation base that will take place in Lagos will offer opportunities for Nigerian research institutions to tap into the EU research system for mutual benefits.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology, Mrs. Esuabana Nko-Asanye in her remarks, appealed to the EU to provide training for Nigerian scientific and technological officers to improve their level of skill in Science, Technology and innovation which will position Nigeria in the STI landscape.

There are no doubts about Nigeria’s quest to improve innovation in science and technology to drive the industrialization process for a competitive economy, but the country must invest in research and development (R&D) components.

In Nigeria, and most of sub-Saharan Africa, commitment to R&D in terms of the percentage of the GDP is very low. Hardly has any country in Africa committed up to 1% of its GDP to R&D. Nigeria is struggling to implement 0.5% far below the African standard of 1% of GDP.

This challenge is due to the paucity of funds, which is why the Nigerian government must leverage its partnership to draw the requisite funds from the EU and other partners.

Nigeria must also develop a systematic policy and perhaps concrete legislation for research and technological development (RTD) reminiscent of European legislation.

The Horizon Europe, the current EU research and innovation programme, was launched in 2021 for the period 2021-2027 as a key  tool for Europe’s 2021 global approach to research and innovation, which aims to support an R&I environment based on rules and values, and to ensure reciprocity and a level playing field across all areas of cooperation.

Similarly,  the long-term people-centered AU Agenda 2063, recognizes the critical role of science, technology and innovation, as “universal enablers for addressing poverty and inequalities; diseases; climate change impact; food and nutrition security, digitization, health; disease prevention, environmental conservation, migration.”

Also  the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has made commitment to STI through Article 27 of the Charter on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, the Directive (A/DIR.1/06/12) on Science, Technology and Innovation and the Supplementary Act (A/SA.2/06/12) adopting the ECOWAS Policy on Science, Technology and Innovation (ECOPOST).

However, these articles and protocols in Africa have not yielded the desired results. It is therefore incumbent on the continent to review these documents where necessary and come up with a more prioritized policy direction.

There should also be a substantial increase in total research spending in Nigeria and member states of African Union (AU) to maintain and strengthen international competitiveness of African products. This is how Nigeria and other African countries can launch the continent into a global summit of science technology and innovation.