[size=18pt]Nigerian Minister calls for more science reporting‎
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Abuja, Nigeria, Sept 14, GNA - Prof Christian Onyebuchi Chukwu, Nigeria's Minister of Health, has said traditional beliefs and practices still dominate the psyche of a sizeable proportion of the populace in Africa and the Middle East as a result of inadequate and inaccurate scientific reportage.
   
He therefore appealed to science journalists in these places to be more assertive in assisting to harness and reshaping the mentality of the people towards embracing modern practices.   
   
Prof Chukwu was addressing the first regional meeting of Science Journalism Cooperation (SjCOOP) Phase Two Project for science journalists in Anglophone Africa and Asia on Monday.
   
The project was collaboration between the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) and Development Communications Networks (DEVCOMS), a Nigeria-based development group, with support from the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and other partners.
   
He said a well-drilled science journalist was a valuable asset to the continent that is full of ignorance, disease, prejudice and stereotypes.
   
Prof Chukwu said the importance of mastering issues relating to health, environment, agriculture, climate change, science and technology had life-changing potentials that sometimes alter the course of humanity.
   
He said apart from accurate information to empower the populace, a competent-based science reporter would readily understand the dangers of sensationalizing issues.
   
Ms Olfa Labassi, WFSJ and SjCOOP Manager, said the strategy of the fellowship was to bridge the gap between the continent's scientists and journalists for accurate and information dissemination.
   
She said from the 81 journalists who participated in the maiden project between 2006-9 period, 15 were promoted, 17 started freelancing internationally and together collected more than 44 prizes and awards.
     
Mr Diran Onifade, President African Federation of Science Journalists (AFST), said science journalism was an emerging force in Africa and called on participants to demonstrate commitment and hard-headedness to distinguish themselves from the rest.
   
He said it was expected that scepticism of scientists and policy-makers towards the media as well as lack of interest from editors for science and research would be abated henceforth.
From Maxwell Awumah, GNA Special Correspondent, Abuja


http://www.ghananewsagency.org/s_health/r_20319/

It's about time, thank God that someone called this out.

Enough of the superstitions and ignorances flying around in Nigeria, esp in the villages

How can there be good science reporters and writers when there are not even enough good scientists? Putting the cart before the horse. Become a scientific society first and superstition will decay. Simply telling people to embrace rational beliefs when there is no evidence on the ground of its benefit to them will not sway them. Instead religion, rituals, and juju will be believed in and 25% of the time will produce what people ask for just off of pure chance and "luck." If science is developed to such a level that it produces benefits or national prestige, superstition will be eroded gradually.

Ileke-IdI:

It's about time, thank God that someone called this out.

Enough of the superstitions and ignorances flying around in Nigeria, esp in the villages

I think the minister would do well calling for more grammar teachers. The average level of grammar proficiency is amazingly poor around these parts.

@ topic, the minister is not serious. Where are the science reporters going to come from? Where are the science teachers or laboratories or textbooks? Are these reporters expected to develop science reporting powers over night?

When the minister complains about "traditional beliefs", is he saying we shld throw away our culture and embrace western culture in the name of modernity? What we need is to improve the educational system and increase literacy rate. Our culture is not the problem, a thieving irresponsible government is.

PhysicsQED:

How can there be good science reporters and writers when there are not even enough good scientists? Putting the cart before the horse. Become a scientific society first and superstition will decay. Simply telling people to embrace rational beliefs when there is no evidence on the ground of its benefit to them will not sway them. Instead religion, rituals, and juju will be believed in and 25% of the time will produce what people ask for just off of pure chance and "luck." If science is developed to such a level that it produces benefits or national prestige, superstition will be eroded gradually.

True, true. But how does not having enough scientist stop the press from enlightening the general population on scientific findings?
Let people have a taste of it and they'll study it. Enough stories about juju this and juju that in the newspapers.
And it'll also help if the reporting are written in a language people can understand lol.

He therefore appealed to science journalists in these places to be more assertive in assisting to harness and reshaping the mentality of the people towards embracing modern practices.

We need to breed more scientists and we must find a way to instill these alternatives into the minds of our youth.
Even though it may take a little longer and they may have to study a little bit harder, the results will be long term success.

Horus:

We need to breed more scientists and we must find a way to instill these alternatives into the minds of our youth.
Even though it may take a little longer and they may have to study a little bit harder, the results will be long term success.

Exactly.

Nigerians are too comfortable relying on traditional gods

Horus:

We need to breed more scientists and we must find a way to instill these alternatives into the minds of our youth.
Even though it may take a little longer and they may have to study a little bit harder, the results will be long term success.

Nigeria has more than enough scientists, the problem is the environment in which they are raised. Nigerian surgeons, professors and scientists are making us proud all over the world . . . so its not like we have a chronic shortage. The problems are:

1. Where are the labs for a typical scientist to practice in naija? where are the funds? I would dearly love to return and share my knowledge with the younger generation but what would i do besides holding chalk all day?

2. There's no light, poor security, basically no social infrastructure . . . is that the type of atmosphere a scientist can thrive in?

3. what happened to our schools?

Ileke-IdI:

Exactly.

Nigerians are too comfortable relying on traditional gods

Seriously this is just juvenile nonsense. I suppose many of you have never been to JETS competitions before . . . if you did you'd know how many intelligent kids Nigeria loses yrly to foreign universities due to lack of opportunities.

Traditional gods? Too many half-baked illiterates comment on the politics section these days.