University of Port Harcourt

By Letom Nnen

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr T Ogbonnaya Onu and other stakeholders have called for a conscious application of research evidence in solving societal problems and in making policies. The Minister stated this at the closing ceremony of the Evidence Leaders Africa (ELA) 2020. Reading the goodwill message of the Minister at the Exchange and Linkage Programmes Unit on Thursday, December 3, 2020 , the Director, Department of Environmental Sciences and Technology of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Nigeria, Dr Peter Ekweozoh commended the Project Leader of Evidence Leaders Africa (ELA), Dr Eucharia Nwaichi and her sponsors, African Institute for Development Policy (AFRIDEP) and the African Academy of Science (AAS). The Minister lauded the timing of the Project and pledged the support of his Ministry. The Minister also congratulated the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), for improving staff capacity in evidence informed decision making. “Policy decisions drive the direction and progress of the national developmental objectives in any economy, and this is measurable by key indicators such as research development, patents, publications, linkages and collaboration as well as funding. The Ministry is currently reviewing its Science Technology and Innovation policy. It is in line with these ongoing activities that the Ministry, recognising the pivotal role of evidence in policy formulation and implementation, keyed into the Evidence Leaders in Africa (ELA) project. It is hereby endorsed for use by stakeholders in the traditional medicine sector. I encouraged other sectors to view it as a template to adapt and build-on in developing strategies for national growth and economic development,” the Minister said. In his remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Stephen Okodudu who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Regina Ogali congratulated Dr Nwaichi and her team for the project, encouraging participants to make good use of the opportunity. “I congratulate Dr Eucharia Nwaichi for emerging one of the three Grantees of Evidence Leaders Africa Project and being recognised by the African Academy of Science and the African Institute for Development Policy. I look forward to seeing policymakers and researchers use their newly acquired skills and capacity to raise institutions and bring about expected developments in setting priorities and implementing programmes using evidence in Nigeria and Africa,” Professor Okodudu said. Also speaking, the Director General of NNMDA, Dr Samuel Etatuvie praised the tremendous impact of the project, promising that his agency would abide by the policies as presented. The DG also appealed for more robust collaboration between Evidence Leaders Africa, NNMDA and the University of Port Harcourt. In her presentation on Developing Guidelines for Evidence Use in Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), Dr Nwaichi emphasised on heightened awareness use of evidence among participating researchers and policymakers “Through this partnership, new skills around accessing, synthesising applying evidence as well as preparing Policy Brief birthed among team,” she pointed out, disclosing that the Exchange and Linkage Programmes Unit under her leadership would facilitate curation of evidences in relevant areas from the University of Port Harcourt. Highlights of the event were the presentation and endorsement of the Guidelines for Evidence Use in Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency and Presentation of Policy Briefs. Goodwill messages were also presented by the United States of American Leadership Coach, Rachel Peterson, the Director of AFIDEP, Dr Rose Oronje, and the Director, Strategy and Partnerships at Africa Academy of Science (AAS), Dr Isayvani Naicker and others.

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