A two-day Roundtable on Research Funding for research institutions in Nigeria is billed to come up in Abuja on April 17 and 18.

The event, which is being put together by the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) in collaboration with Co-Heritage Hunters Nigeria and TF & Associates as organisers, is a talk shop aimed at mobilising the nation in support of adequate research funding. ASURI is the umbrella body of researchers in Federal mandate Research Institutes, Agencies and Allied Colleges in Nigeria.

According to a statement jointly signed by the secretary general of ASURI, Dr. Theophilus Ndubuaku, the president of Co-Heritage Hunters Nigeria, Pastor Bola Oregbemi, and the managing consultant of TF & and Associates, Mr. Toye Fawole, the event, coming on the heels of the recently-passed National Research and Innovation Council Bill 2018, will take place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. The statement described it as an appreciation event to celebrate innovativeness and beam positive light on the role of research in national development.

With the theme, “Research our Hope,” the two-day event will feature the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, as special guest of honour while the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Muhammadu Musa Bello, and the minority whip in the Senate, Senator Philip Aduda, representing FCT in the Senate, are chief host and co-host respectively.

The main speaker at the talk shop is eminent scientist and former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oye Ibidapo-Obe, also a former president of the National Academy of Science (NAS) while the chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Senator (Prof.) Robert Ajayi Boroffice, and Senator David Umaru, the chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters who sponsored the National Research and Innovation Council Bill 2018, will lead the team of the 60 Senators who co-sponsored the Bill and several other federal lawmakers from both chambers to the event.

In attendance as well will be the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator (Dr.) Chris Nwabueze Ngige, and many other Ministers who superintend over federal mandate research institutes and agencies.

The event is also expected to feature members of the Diplomatic Corps, Executive Directors and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Research Institutes, Director-Generals (DGs) of Federal Agencies, Captains of industry, opinion leaders and the civil society, among others.

The two-day roundtable will feature over 1,000 researchers while over 100 Nigerian research institutes will showcase their activities at the adjoining exhibition, alongside other exhibitors from both private and public sectors.

•Photo shows Chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Senator Robert Boroffice (in white), with members of the committee, from left, Mr. Toye Fawole, managing consultant of TF & Associates, Dr. Theophilus Ndubuaku, national secretary General of ASURI, and Pastor Bola Oregbemi, president, Co-Heritage Hunters Nigeria.

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