Indians in Nigeria last week celebrated their country’s Republic Day. In this chat, the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mahesh Sachdev, tells NGOZI OBOH some of the interventions of his country in Nigeria’s science and technology sector.
WHAT MAKES THE REPUBLIC DAY RELEVANT TO INDIANS?
On January 25, 1950, India adopted a constitution that has continued till today 62 years. Later so India gave itself a constitution in 1950 and we became a republic. We had elections; we had our political process beginning from this day. That political process is what had continued unabated and uninterrupted till today. On? January 25, 1950, India became world’s largest democracy and has continued till today. We adopted a constitution which was quite voluminous: everything was laid out and it provided for a multi- religious, multilingual state which was secular, which was tolerant and which was inclusive and that has been the basic tenet of our politics so far. So the day is very important. It was the first major constitution which provided useful benchmark to multiethnic, multilingual society in setting out the country’s future process or politics.
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HOW IS INDIA HELPING NIGERIA TO DEVELOP ITS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SECTOR?
We regard science and technology as an important element in our strategy for national development.? We believe that developing countries lost the race to develop specifically because they did not utilize initial breakthroughs in science and technology, and we became poor. Today, when we are re-launching our path to socio economic greatness, we have this important strategic import of science and technology. We should use it for national development and to develop many other areas.
India has been more than willing to share its science and technology with Nigeria and other developing countries. We have something unique to offer. Our science and technology has been developed to be relevant in the context of our economic plans, which are not very different from that of Nigeria’s: a large developing society with less capital than human resources, with need to leapfrog in education, healthcare and other social services. We have been at the forefront of some of these technologies and we have offered them to Nigeria though various frameworks. The most important framework is the Indian technical and economic cooperation programme under which we are going to be, during the year that will be complete on March 31, this year, offer 90 fellowships to Nigerians. Many of these fellowships are in the areas of science and technology, especially information technology where India has more prowess. We will like to share that knowledge through those fellowships. Apart from this, we have other fellowships under India- Africa Forum Summit which was held in last May with Vice President Namadi Sambo in attendance in Addis Ababa.? Under this framework, we have large number of scholarships as well as fellowships for senior researchers.
Under the same framework, we also have the possibility of setting up institutions in Nigeria. For example, we are planning to set up an extended facility for education at the University of Ibadan. We also have a very interesting project called Pan African Network under which India has set up telemedicine and tele-education facilities in Nigeria which use Indian satellite to link up to Indian medicine, Indian education and other facilities. So, all these are already happening quietly.
India has earlier been associated with academics in Nigeria. A lot of Indian professors used to be in Nigeria in the 70s and early 80s. Some of them are still here but most of them have been replaced by home grown talent.
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ARE YOU THINKING OF DOING SOMETHING TO BOOST BIOTECHNOLOGY IN NIGERIA?
I have repeatedly highlighted to the Nigerian stakeholders the possibilities of biotechnology. For example, I have pointed out that Indian farmers are using genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds which are seeds that, under controlled conditions, with record 41 per cent higher yield. That I have recommended, they are studying it and it might be possible for Nigeria to adopt the same pattern, and it will have a huge impact on the textile sector. We are also considering a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Science and Technology which will cover many areas of science and technology.
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HOW IS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IMPACTING THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC LIVES OF INDIANS?
I will not give a one-word answer but will give examples. Do you know that in India, in our capital New Delhi, all public transport vehicles use compressed natural gas – all buses, all taxis use natural gas, not petrol or diesel? This technology allows less pollution and it is cheaper. It allows the existing petrol or diesel to give way to CNG (compressed natural gas). In Nigeria the gas you are flaring can be used directly in vehicles.
Also, in nuclear technology, India produces around 10,000 mw of power from nuclear reactors. We also get wind energy of 20,000mw and now we have launched very forceful programme for solar energy. All these are used in India to foster economic and social development. 70 per cent of world vaccines are produced in India.? I am very optimistic that if Nigeria will put its mind to doing so can do it. You have the talent, you have the capabilities. Many of the talents migrate to other countries but they can be brought back. Occasionally we did that.
In 60s and 70s we set up world-class institutions. We were able to get bright students and from there we started work. The fillip also came when the IT sector started booming in India. In 2,000, the Y2K bug provided India an opportunity to outsource computers, and that created success which exploded our IT output from information technology, clinical research and other issues came up. I should also add that India has a large market. So if you are able to do some practical research, you have the possibility of enjoying the bonanza.
Nigeria is yet to link its research products to the industries
There is a well known international practice called incubation. If you incubate a research product, you can turn it into saleable industrial products. Very often, incubation centres are put in an environment under which research scholars and industrialists get together and provide interface between the two so that research becomes marketable product. India did not lose sight of eventual commercialisation of our research. Also researches are given grants. Industries also fund research.
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