Lack of advocacy, bane of research to investors – NAFN president

NaijaAgroNet:

Inadequate advocacy and sensitisation on the part of government  and lack of interest on the part of the private sector in commercialising local research findings has been attributed as the reason why private sector don’t appreciate the inherent benefits of such findings.

The National President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and Chairman, Board of Trustees, National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN), Senator Abdullahi Adamu told  NaijaAgroNet while explaining that government has not been able to address the issues to a point that the private investor can appreciate such research because the advantages that will accrue to him or her over any subject matter of research are not known.

Adamu cited the case of United Kingdom under late Mrs Margaret Thatcher and United States of America under Ronald Reagan tenure and posited that before they went into full privatisation of railway system, the ordinary Briton or American knew what was railway and that it was functioning.

“They knew the advantages of travelling by rail as compared with travelling by road in a car or lorry; they knew the difference between travelling by train and travelling on the high seas overseas or by ship; they knew the implications. The private sector, if you want them to be involved in these things, there must be good advocacy on the side of the government,” Adamu said.

NaijaAgroNet recalls from Adamu that there was need for government to publicise such research, its advantages and develop the literature that will sell what have been researched upon as that is the only weapon that can make such research attractive to a prospective investor or the private sector.

He canvassed that government should create the enabling environment that would stimulate investment in research by the private sector.

*With additional reports from NAN

AN/GEE

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pix:National President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Senator Abdullahi Adamu