Worried by the extent of unemployment, banditry, kidnapping and other social economic problems bedeviling Nigeria, no fewer than 20 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organization (CSOs) have resolved to partner with the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) in its advocacy campaigns for research funding as a way out of the doldrums.
At an ASURI parley with the Civil Society Organizations in Abuja over the weekend, the Union and the NGOs agreed to form a coalition to raise the level of awareness about the connection between research and national development.

Welcoming the representative of the CSOs to the parley earlier, the Secretary General of ASURI, Dr. Theophilus Ndubuaku, said even though Nigeria was blessed by God in terms of natural minerals and human resources, our lack of due regard for research meant we are not adding value to nature and he proposed that no Nation on earth can attain meaningful growth and development without committed effort to funding research.
According to him, Nigeria has over 200 research institutes, colleges and allied agencies for virtually every area of human endeavors, yet these Federal Government agencies are grossly underfunded. He said a facility visit to some Nigeria’s research institutes will make any well-meaning citizen to almost shed-tears because of their terrible state of infrastructure. Given the abundance of God’s blessing and minimal occurrences of natural disaster, Nigeria should be among the richest Nations in the world.
The way out he said is the establishment of the National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC), which he said Mr. President inaugurated on January 7, 2016. He said to complement the inauguration by Mr. President, 50 senators co-sponsored the NRIC Bill, which is almost a verbatim adaptation of the 2012 version of the NPST, to provide the enabling statute for the council. The NRIC (Establishment) Bill was first passed by the 8th national Assembly in 2018 but was returned to the President for presidential assent. Regrettably, the Bill was denied assent for unexplainable reasons.

Speaking on behalf of the CSO, the President of Civil Society Groups for Good Governance, Comrade Dominic Ogakwu, said the era of ASURI remaining the lone voice in the wilderness about research funding was over. He said it was time to form a coalition with the objective of taking Nigeria to the next level, adding that the low level of research funding in Nigeria should not be seen as the cross of ASURI alone.
“Let all well-meaning Nigerians join in carrying this cross. This is what we, as representative of the Civil Society, have resolved to do by forming a coalition with ASURI by lending our voices to this advocacy.
The forum was attended by the Public Relations Officer of ASURI, Comrade Mohammed Nma Baba, National Auditor, Comrade Stephen Badu and National Trustee, Comrade Aduagba Olarongbe. The following NGOs and CSOs were represented at the forum:

1. National Youth Council of Nigeria
2. Civil Society Groups for Good Governance
3. Guardians of Democracy and Development Initiative
4. Centre for Peace, Transparency and Accountability
5. Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative
6. Independent Public Service Watch
7. African Youth for Development Commission
8. Citizens Watch Advocacy Initiative
9. African Leadership Strategic & Transparency Development Initiative
10. Drug Free & Anti-Corruption Initiative
11. Salvage African Advocacy Initiative
12. Advocacy for Change Initiative
13. Northern Nigeria Good Governance Forum
14. African Youth Advocacy
15. Environment and Livelihood Programme
16. Network of Advocacy for Positive Impact Initiative
17. Anti-Corruption Watchdogs
18. Light Up Nigeria Initiative
19. Centre for Prevention of Corruption and Human Rights Abuse Initiative
20. Pro-Tax Pro-Nigeria Initiative
21. Corruption Practice Eradication Organization of Nigeria
22. Coalition of Civil Societies and Media Executive for Good Governance

Source: https://amnewsandtv.com.ng/ngos-partner-with-asuri-on-advocacy-for-research-funding/