Prof. Abiodun Adebayo’s comments highlight the critical need for the Nigerian government to invest in local content creation, research, and intellectual capacity as the foundation for national development. By encouraging the patronage and support of locally-produced goods and research, he suggests Nigeria can follow in the footsteps of nations like China and India, which have thrived by prioritizing and investing in their indigenous industries and intellectual capital.
His call to action focuses on sectors such as healthcare, technology, and agriculture, urging the government to provide more funding for research centers and universities. Adebayo’s lamentation about Nigerian researchers winning international grants while facing struggles for support at home emphasizes the disconnect between Nigeria’s intellectual achievements and the national backing needed to turn them into tangible national development.
In a similar vein, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, shared the university’s commitment to academic excellence and national growth. Meanwhile, the Pro-Chancellor, DIG Udom Ekpoudom (rtd), reflected on the university’s infrastructural advancements despite challenges, underscoring the progress being made within Nigeria’s educational institutions.
Adebayo’s call signals a wider conversation about how nations can uplift themselves by fostering their own innovation, research, and industries. It serves as a reminder that true development stems from a nation’s belief in its capabilities.
