By Fidel Ozugha
A professor of science education in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State, has lamented that healthy environment for science and technology to develop does not exist in Nigeria.
Speaking during the NationGuardTV program, Matters of the Moment, Sr Prof Bernardette Ezeliora whose area of specialty is Chemistry Education, said that poor funding of education in Nigeria has been a hindrance to the growth of science and technology in Nigeria.
”This has made many Nigerians who could develop our science and technology to travel out to other countries and they are doing marvelously well,” she said pointing out that lack of security of lives and property in the country has driven many people away from Nigeria.
The lecturer who is a fellow of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria, however remarked that Nigeria is still the giant of Africa even in science and tech despite the fact that South Africa who are moving faster than Nigeria in space travel. ”Nigeria is still a giant of Africa in all ramifications. The only problem is that many of our young talents, because of economic hardship and insecurity, they go out and many of them perform marvelously well.”
On which state that could be described as the capital of science and technology in Nigeria, Sr Prof Ezeliora disclosed that Anambra State could be declared as the one not only because of Innoson Motor Vehicles Manufacturing, ”a lot of things are being manufactured in Anambra State. You can get batteries , textiles from Anambra, essential things. Anambra has a sustainable approach to all these things.”
The professor of education who has an organisation Young Scientists Center-(YSC) where she grooms young ones in science and technology, Sr Ezeliora explained that lack of sponsorship, insecurity and among others have been her major problem. She disclosed that they had manufactured many things that could advance science and technology in the country but she needs government, organisations, individuals supports for she cannot do it alone.
A fleet of Innoson Motor Vehicles ready for public consumption
