Research essential for societies’ prosperity – Don

The African Heritage Institution (Afri-Heritage), a socio-economic and political body has said that research is fundamental and essential for the prosperity of societies and human advancement. Executive Director of Afri-Heritage, Prof. Ufo Okeke-Uzodike said this in an address at the 2017 Annual Research Review and Scientific Validation workshop of the institution in Enugu. This is […]

The African Heritage Institution (Afri-Heritage), a socio-economic and political body has said that research is fundamental and essential for the prosperity of societies and human advancement.

Executive Director of Afri-Heritage, Prof. Ufo Okeke-Uzodike said this in an address at the 2017 Annual Research Review and Scientific Validation workshop of the institution in Enugu.

This is even as the research work on “Environmental Impact of Boko Haram in Nigeria’’ and “Agitation of Separation and Non-Negotiability of Nigeria” was reviewed by a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Dr Freedom Onuoha.

According to him, there was strong evidence that countries that invest in research have much better chances of being prosperous than countries that do not.

He said: “Currently, Nigeria invests way too little in its research and development activities than many of its peers. This exemplified not just in its annual budget allocations for research but also in its failure to manage effectively its tertiary educational institutions.

 “The institutions were explicitly created to drive research and development, and boost our knowledge stock about our country and its communities.’’

 Okeke-Uzodike  noted that research was important for many reasons such as to gather vital information, to make changes, improve quality of life, for safer and longer lives; to know the truth and exploration and effective utilization of the world around people.

 He further said: “This review workshop seeks largely – to keep us on our toes about the work we do at Afri-Heritage with regard to our obligation to do quality research and research relevant to our context. To further raise official awareness about the continued importance of research and ordered policy-making. Public policies should be evidence-based; to appeal to the public to ask fundamental questions of government officials on why funds are poorly distributed to research institutions for use in addressing critical societal problems facing our communities and country.”

 Earlier, Onuoha, a lecturer with University of Nigeria, Nsukka [UNN], reviewed the research work on “Environmental Impact of Boko Haram in Nigeria’’ and “Agitation of Separation and Non-Negotiability of Nigeria.”

 Onuoha said that the two research works hit the issues that were important to the peace of the country; while it tried to proffer practical solutions based on findings to solve the challenges.

Dr  Ikenna Alumona, a lecturer with Chukwuemeka Odomegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, reviewed the research works on “Restructuring and Nigeria National Integration in Perspective’’ and “Peace Building and National Integration in a Multi-Cultural and Multi-Tribal Society.”

 According to Alumona,  the research works bring to mind the need for leaders to listen and come closer to the people to build a united and prosperous nation through practical steps.