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Researchers to Unveil Strategies to Achieve Tinubu’s Eight-Point Agenda

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Researchers to Unveil Strategies to Achieve Tinubu’s Eight-Point Agenda

By: Michael Mike

Researchers in the country are set to unveil strategies toward achieving the eight priority agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

This was the outcome of the National Research, Development and Innovation Coordination Summit. A Summit convened and facilitated by Research for Impact, Knowledge Economy, and Sustainable Development (RIKE-SD) and organised by West and Central Africa Research and Education Network (WACREN) with financial support from Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, UK.

Speaking at the closing of the Summit in Abuja at the weekend, the Global Impact lead, Research for Impact Knowledge Economy and Sustainable Development( RIKE SD), Dr Mustapha Popoola, said the group of researchers plan to provide workable solutions to pronouncements of the president especially his eight-point agenda.

The blue print according to him, would be presented to President Tinubu by 29 May 2024 when he marks a year in office.

Mustapha said the private sector driven innovation aimed at tackling various challenges bothering the country through Research, Development and Innovation.

Mustpha stressed that the initiative aimed at moving the president pronouncements from an instruction to practical implementation.

He said: “Over the decades there has been the same problem, problem of research is not making money, research commercialization problem, everything people have been talking about RDI whereas, Mr. Presidents, in his wisdom has actually directed the need for us to institutionalize research development or innovation across board.”

He noted that as it happens in other climes, when a presidential pronouncement is made, it gives life and it is actually a national direction, and researchers in Nigeria have taken the steps to follow the president’s directive.

He said: “So we take it and in taking it we are making sure that we are taking it to the next level. So the first thing we want to do is to interrogate the Presidential priority areas, eight of them.

“So it’s like we are using the directory of the president using the toolkit that we have with us as a people before and as experts to now provide solution to the agenda been set for the country by Mr. President.

“So for the past three days, we have actually been doing that. And we have our working groups who are actually going to be reconstituted as the national think tank for the presidential priority areas.

“We are saying for the first time, we are launching out Research, Development and Innovation think tank that will be looking at the agenda of Mr. President, and particularly the priority areas.

“So in this room, we have eight groups that have been working on for the past 48 hours on this agenda. And the next thing is for us to allow going to the phase of evidence and synthesis, and come back with solutions to our national problems that are under each of the agenda.

“And to actually get that one down to Mr. President, for implementation, and see those that needs to go to the private sector.”

He said the idea would be demand driven with emphasis on end users of the research work

Mustapha added: “That is we are actually looking at the end users of those research which are the communities. So the communities are going to be on display, but as a new approach to make sure that we deliver results.

“So in the past three days, we’ve set out to actually achieve that. And we have actually done a great job. We believe before May 29, 2024 when the President would be celebrating his first year in office, he would have a clear blueprint of what research, development or innovation can be used to catalyze the achievement of his eight priority areas.

“So that is what we promise that’s what we want to deliver. And we are actually looking at initializing this particular platform at both state and non state levels, at national and sub national level, so that we can actually build sustainability into it.”

Also speaking to journalists at the closing of the Summit, the former Director General, Defence Research and Development Bureau, Air Vice Marshall (AVM) Jomo Osahor (Rtd) said efforts are on to ensure that Nigeria joins in the knowledge base economy, stressing that Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in the transformation era.

He said: “We are all aware that the great nations and the nations that are making so much progress in their economies and every sector of their development have moved away from resource based to a knowledge base, and that is what the whole world is doing, going on knowledge based economy.

“So research and development is very essential in the development of every nation, because you need to be creative. You need to be innovative. You don’t have to depend on the ideas that are foreign.

“Most of the times you face some unique challenges, and this unique challenges you cannot buy their solutions off the shelve and even if you can, they might not be willing to sell it to you for political reasons or other reasons.

“But when you have developed it yourself, then you can always use it and until you get to that level as a nation, where you are independent in the production of your needs, you are not independent.

“So I think research and development is something that is key. And that is why this summit is very timely and very important.”

Former Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Prof. Elias Bogoro, on his part, stressed the importance of research in a knowledge based economy.

Bogoro said it would be difficult for any country to move forward without research, adding that: “Talking about knowledge economy. And as you can imagine, research is at the center and defining line of knowledge economy.

“You cannot undertake advancement without generating information based on investigation, creativity, and innovation as it were. And I think that is exactly the situation and the world is operating knowledge economy in the 21st century.

“Nigeria could not be different. And government realizes this. Precisely why, for quite a long time, I’ve seen very strong involvement, facilitation and support of government through the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.”

The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa commended the summit, stressing importance of research, development and innovation.

She said: “Because without data, without research, without developments, we cannot grow.

“So we see what other countries are doing with it. We should not be left behind. And that is why Mr. President himself has stressed the need for research, development and innovation.

“And what we have to do is ensure that in every sphere of our lives, in every Ministry and Department in every organization, it becomes a critical part of the organisation.

“You need to grow but you cannot grow without researching, or you cannot grow without innovations, and we have a whole lot of talents. And what we are doing with this group is that we can work with the guys in the diaspora.”

She argued that it is in the talents we have as a nation that give us enormous resources and potential for development and not even the natural resources in this case our oil.

She added that: “So it’s about collaboration. So we hope to collaborate with the diaspora in this field with those back at home, so it’s about just bringing out the best of ourselves.”

Researchers to Unveil Strategies to Achieve Tinubu’s Eight-Point Agenda

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Adara development association condemns wakeh community attack in Kachia LGA

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Adara development association condemns wakeh community attack in Kachia LGA

By: Zagazola Makama

The Adara Development Association (ADA) has expressed deep shock and sadness over a deadly attack by unknown gunmen on Wakeh community in Agunu Ward, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, September 7, 2025.

According to a statement by the ADA National Publicity Secretary, Livinus Paul Magaji, heavily armed attackers invaded the village, blocking entrance routes to prevent possible assistance from neighbouring communities.

The assault left eight people dead and nine others seriously injured. Victims were reportedly given mass burial, while the injured are receiving treatment at St. Gerald Catholic Hospital, Kakuri, Alheri Hospital, and Royal Hospital in Kachia. Several properties, including a bus, were destroyed, causing millions of naira in losses.

The association noted that such attacks have become increasingly frequent in Adara communities since, despite the presence of security in the area. ADA strongly condemned the violence, describing it as barbaric and inhumane.

“ADA leadership calls on the Kaduna State Government and other relevant authorities to take immediate and decisive action to protect lives and property and to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice,” the statement said.

It added that the Adara community is ready to collaborate with government and security agencies to curb the ongoing attacks.

The association also extended condolences to the families of the victims, wishing speedy recovery to those injured, while urging residents to remain calm, vigilant, and avoid taking the law into their own hands.

ADA reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful coexistence and called on all indigenes and residents of Adara land to work with government and stakeholders to build sustainable peace in the region.

The Kaduna state government are yet to visit the affected communities or make any statement on the attack.

Adara development association condemns wakeh community attack in Kachia LGA

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NSCDC officer accidentally shoots colleague dead in Life Camp, Abuja

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NSCDC officer accidentally shoots colleague dead in Life Camp, Abuja

By: Zagazola Makama

A Deputy Superintendent of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has accidentally shot and killed a colleague in Life Camp, Abuja, security sources confirmed.

The sources told Zagazola Makama that at about 10:20 a.m. on Sunday, September 7, DSC Adekunle Emmanuel was accidentally shot on the left upper arm above the bicep by fellow Operative while en route to a principal’s residence at Lias Estate from Corner View Hotel.

The victim was immediately rushed to Maitama General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The corpse has been deposited at the hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy.

The suspect is currently in custody and undergoing interrogation, the sources added.

NSCDC officer accidentally shoots colleague dead in Life Camp, Abuja

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Decomposed body of man found in car at National Assembly Complex , Abuja

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Decomposed body of man found in car at National Assembly Complex , Abuja

By: Zagazola Makama

The decomposed body of a 55-year-old man has been discovered in a car parked outside the annex gate of the National Assembly complex, Abuja, the police have confirmed.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the deceased, identified as Gaddafi Iwar, a Tiv man suspected to be a labourer at a construction site within the complex, was found motionless in a red Peugeot 406 with registration number BWR-577 BF at about 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 7.

The body was evacuated to the National Assembly Clinic for medical confirmation and later conveyed to Asokoro General Hospital, but was rejected due to advanced decomposition.

The Tiv community and youth leaders eventually took the body to Gbawu Village, a border town between AMAC and Kuje Area Council, for burial to prevent a health hazard.

Decomposed body of man found in car at National Assembly Complex , Abuja

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