ASRIC chair urges members to commit 1% GDP to research, dev’t
Tolu Aiyegbusi
The Chairman of African Scientific Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC), Prof. Sammy Chumbow, has called on governments of African member states to commit 1 per cent of their nations’ GDP to fund research and development.
Chumbow, the President of Cameroon Academy of Sciences, made the call on Wednesday in Zanzibar, Tanzania, in an acceptance speech after emerging as the chairman of ASRIC, making him the third elected chairman of the council.
The newly elected ASRIC chair stated that African leaders ought to devote more resources and funds to the development of Science, Technology and Innovation in their countries.
NAN reports that Chumbow, a national of Cameroun, contested with representatives from Senegal and Zimbabwe and he emerged as chairman of ASRIC with 15 votes from 22 voting member countries.
He said that science and technology policies, which would improve research and innovation across the continent, called for cooperation among scientists in the continent.
Chumbow promised to work with the team of ASRIC Assistant Chairs to ensure African countries invest in capacity building.
He called for improvements in the area of innovation policy development and promotion of regional innovation policy.
Chumbow also pledged to use his office to follow through with implementing the policy document of STISA-2024 and address the aspirations identified under the Agenda 2063.
Emphasising the need for increased funding for Research and Development (R&D), he added that funding for R&D was geared towards long-term success in any economy.
“The reality of insufficient funding has never been more apparent than during the recent Coronavirus Pandemic.
“African countries must increase their spending on STI to at least 1% of their national budgets to achieve success that can place Africa on the global map,’’ the chairman said.
Chumbow also stressed the need for capacity building for researchers and potential innovators in the continent.
According to him, increased investment in Science, Engineering and Entrepreneurship skills training would improve R&D outputs.
He said, “Capacity building would address low science infrastructure in African countries and ensure progress in the area of STI in Africa.”
Prof. Ekanem Braide, the outgoing President of the Nigerian Academy of Sciences (NAS) also recommended approaching NGO’s, funding agencies dedicated to funding both public and private R&D to improve ASRIC’s activities.
She stated that funding played a key role in the implementation of ASRIC innovative activities.
“At the regional level, we need to approach and dialogue with African regional bodies, NGO’s, INGO’s to also invest in developing regional innovation strategies.
“This is so ASRIC can pursue and achieve its mandates and implement its flagship projects such as the impactful hepatitis project and other projects,” she said.
NAN reports that the winners of the first, second, third and fourth Vice Chairs of ASRIC were: Prof. Vasey Mwaja, Prof. Francis Agyeni, Dr Thabile Ndolovu and Prof. Khaled Ghedira, respectively. (NAN)
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
