The Federal Government has been called upon to make Research and Development (R&D) a top pirority so as to avoid a fire brigade approach to issues when the need arises.
A Prof. at the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) Martins Emeje made the call in an exclusive interview with Health TV news crew in Abuja.
According to him, Research and Development over the years has been neglected as he says people think it is a waste of resources.
He said the neglect of R&D has been the major reason why there has been increase in mortality during health emergencies.
Prof. Emeje said apart from other benefits Research and Development offers, employment opportunities can be created and food can be made available as a result of R&D.
He said if the Nigerian government had invested in Research and Development before the COVID-19 pandemic struck the country wouldn’t have recorded large amounts of deaths and it would have been able to manage the situation better than it did.
Prof. Emeje while stating that the private sector also has a huge role to play when it come to R&D, called on charity organisations, Non-governmental organisations, small and medium scale enterprises amongst other to draw from the vision of R&D
Speaking on the forthcoming NIPRD Conference Prof Emeje said it will be an all science and all of art conference where everyone from diverse sector is invited and expected to make an input on how the problem of R&D should be addressed.
He added that this is one of the major activities the institution wants to carry out as its own contribution towards managing health emergencies in the country.
The 2021 NIPRD Conference is expected to take place in Abuja on the 23rd of September.
