By Mohammed Mohammed
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (FMSTI), on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Across Atlantic Development (ADD), United Kingdom (UK) for the establishment of Science Park and Museum at the SHEDA Technology Complex (SHETCO) in Abuja.
Speaking at the epoch signing ceremony, the Minister of FMSTI, Dr. Adeleke Mamora, while applauding the UK based company saidthe overarching aim for establishing the park is to increase citizens’ wealth by promoting the culture of innovation and the competitiveness of its business and knowledge-based institutions.
He cited the United Kingdom, USA, Canada and Japan as deploying Science and Technology Parks as an effective tool for rapid technological and industrial development.
According to Mamora, China, Singapore, Korea, Malaysia have realized how the development and effective management of Science Parks could transform an underdeveloped country to a developed one, adding that these countries have developed STPs with spin-off companies to create several thousands of jobs.
SHESTCO STPs, the Minister said will serve as a model for replication by State Governments, Universities, Private Sector and other organizations interested in establishing S&T Parks, stressing that the engagement and active participation of the private sector through public private partnership (PPP) arrangement however, is a key component for delivering the Nigerian government objectives in this regard.
On the MoU, he said cuts across building relationship between the two institutions on individual basis, to staff exchange programme, technology transfers of inventions and innovations as well as commercialization of R and D outputs to enhance national development.
He cautioned that the implementation of the MoU requires that the stakeholders should embark on specific actions and initiatives as outlined in the plan for us to achieve the desired objectives of mainstreaming STI in our national development agenda through the establishment of a viable STI system.
In his remark, the Minister of State, Chief Henry Ikoh, however noted that the Ministry has been championing the establishment of Science and Technology Parks in the country since 2006, adding that the implementation began in 2007 after a survey was conducted across the country to determine the STI landscape after which 6 Science Parks, one in each Geo-political zone was proposed.
He added that the idea of establishing six Science Parks was changed in 2009 and the focus was on establishing a Model Science and Technology Park at Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) in Abuja where 79.5 hectares of land was provided.
Ikoh, said the absence of strong linkage among the stakeholders have adversely affected the development of indigenous technology transfer and have encouraged undue reliance on foreign technical assistance.
On the science museum, he said the collaboration will be devoted to one or several STI such as Astronomy, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Medical Sciences, Construction and Building Industries, Manufactured Objects, stressing that this is aimed at inspiring visitors especially students with exhibitions, iconic objects and stories of incredible Scientific Achievements.
In his remark, the CEO of AAD, Dr. David Apollos, assured that having worked across the world supervising science parks projects in million of Dollars, he thought it expedient to come to Africa to replicate what countries like Cambodia, China, US, Singapore have transformed their economies using Science Parks.
He added that he as someone who has sat on the board of EU Horizon, he would use his connection to trigger the fund needed for the take-off of the multi-million-dollar project.
The CEO, said: “The striking point for me was when I was in Cambodia where I was managing over $22 million development projects that has to do with science development programmes and unfortunately, I was the only black man around so I said to myself that we might need this kind of project in Nigeria and Africa.
“When I came back, I started to think of what I can give back to the continent and also, I have sat on the board of Europe Union (EU) Horizon and as the only black man there so I thought that the way to stop the country going down was to establish Science Park.
“It is time to move and for ADD to move beyond our starting point is that as we must begin with STI and we believe that we our population of 200 million we have got talents and that we have got talents and since that time I have been need of Silicon Valley replicated in our country.”
He assured that the core funding will come from EU Horizon which is European funding programme, adding that because we are part of EU Horizon because we manage EU project we can access that budget to be able to fund EU research programmes and we have gone far and getting close to 90% of getting it done because we get this part of the project ready and so the EU will providing most of the fund which I cannot disclose right now but suffice to say that a bulk of the fund will come from the EU and part of it from the World Bank.
On failed MoUs in Nigeria, as alleged by the Minister, he stressed that when it comes to EU Horizon every year, they have over $300 billion budget and most of these some of these funds are not tapped and Africa for example are not programme partners and we have what is call programme and primary partners as well. Africa is out it.
Apollos, said: “When it comes to implementing and to say the least, I understand what the Ministry was saying it has to do with leadership because we have track record on how to track project in Europe.
“And every project that is being implemented in Europe is being tracked in terms of the special programmes that attract project funding.
“So, these projects are being funded by EU and we are custodian of that fund and when it comes to Silicon Valley (SV) or Science Park (SP) it is also part of the process because when EU gives you a fund, they expect that every single cents of that project being implemented. I don’t live here, I have a commitment to be able to give back as much as I can and when it comes to implementing it is going to be done and collectively with every stakeholder.”
While assuring stakeholders on the preparedness of SHESTCO, the Director General of the agency, Prof. Paul Onyenekwe, the agency is with its state-of-the-art facilities, talented and skilled manpower has provided a strong science base and for the take-off of the park.
The DG, however regretted the intermittent resistance of the indigenes who ignorantly but with non-violently lay claim of ownership of government allocated land spaces in the course of carrying out development programmes that are of national interest.
