NCCE Scribe Advises FG On Research Outcomes

The Executive Secretary, National Council for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Abuja, Professor Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, has advised the Federal Government not only to view ivory towers as research-based institutions, but to also use research outcomes for planning.
He gave the advice recently while speaking on the topic, “Research: An Imperative for Innovations and National Development”, at the third annual symposium of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE).
Okwelle, who was the Keynote Speaker, stated that “national development is an outcome of active goal-oriented and innovative research”.
He noted that the research framework in the Nigeria has not witnessed what could be referred to as “town-gown synergy”.
Okwelle also informed that the 2,500 new research results generated from various institutions in Nigeria every year aside from the 5,000 research Institutes has not been put to any use.
He expressed regrets that while outputs from research have over the years not been put into proper use, many academic researches these days are merely to acquire promotion.
“Outputs from research carried out in tertiary institutions and research institutes have not been sufficiently used by the Federal Government, industrial sectors and the general public for the development of the country.
“Meanwhile, many new academic research findings from institutions were mainly for staff promotion efforts rather than as contributions that could orient policy development.
“The development of any country has links with the development of it’s people”, he said, adding that “there is also a relationship between research and national development”.
He admonished lecturers to run away from academic misconduct and do the work that is expected of them, while also advocating for only qualified staff to be engaged in teaching and for those absorbed to engage in teaching and research.
Professor Okwelle urged lecturers to devote enough time to teaching postgraduate students research methodology, provide opportunities for talented students to make a carrier in science, innovations and research, and for students to be properly supervised.
The Keynote Speaker stressed that researches “must be seen to contribute to economic growth, higher productivity, discovery of new areas, and not just for mere partial fulfillments for the award of higher degrees, otherwise it would hinder development.”

By: Sogbeba Dokubo