“Thomas Kuhn and philosopher of science, who coined the term ‘paradigm shift’, observed that progress in science is neither necessarily linear nor evolutionary, and described scientific evolutions as destructive or catastrophic innovations”. The best recent example in Nigeria is the impact of the mobile GSM telephone revolution on the fixed telephone landline technology. The critical lesson is that Nigerians do not need to master obsolete science and technology before going straight to the cutting age.
“The acquisition of space technologies cannot be deferred because Nigeria must share in the acquisition of the broad spectrum of space technology-based knowledge applications and more importantly, because if Nigeria is to protect its interest in global equity and peace, it must be in a position to contribute fully to international discussions about the future management and exploitation of space”
“A huge concern is, however, that Africa has sufficient resources to fund scientific research and development, but what may not be available in sufficient amounts could be sufficient political will, commitment and conviction”.
“Recent global development has made it evident that natural resources endowment is no longer the prime source of national wealth or prosperity. National prosperity is created by advances in a science and technology culture that is grounded in intellectual property rights (IPR), which today has become the basis of international power structures and diplomacy. Regrettably, the urgency of technology acquisition has not be internalized, with the consequence that the Nigeria economy is not in a position to contribute to the ‘flattening of the world’ but rather it is being grievously afflicted by the wind of globalization. This is a matter of great concern”.
Genuine and mutual respect –earning partnerships develop and become sustainable only when the technical and management skills of the partners are nearly at par. Our flagship programmes in space science and technology, biotechnology, ICT, manufacturing, engineering materials research, and nanotechnology, have fast track our entry into the global knowledge economy. We need to create centers of excellence in selected niches through strategies partnerships across public/private and domestic/international divides.”
“We do not see S&T as being owned by a particular line ministry called by that name. S&T belongs to all must play cross-cutting roles as the mother of all developmental frameworks. It is, therefore, owned by all.”
 

Professor T. Isoun was appointed Honourable Minister of Science and Technology by the President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at a time (2000) when there had been a lack of direction and focus regarding science, technology, and innovation as drivers for development. Thus, from 1980 to 1999, the federal government did not have a clear vision with respect to the purpose of the Ministry of Science and Technology. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, however, had a clear vision for using science, technology, and innovation to invigorate the Nigerian economy and gave the Ministry a central role in implementing his vision. The Ministry of Science and Technology under Prof. Isoun was one of the few ministries that used its own staff and local expertise to formulate its policies and plans for re-vitalization of the Ministry and its Agencies and para-statal institutions. To facilitate this in-house activity, Professor Isoun established as a first step, committees to address the adoption of a focus on high technology. The declared fundamental strategies were: 1. To get policies in place for the application and management of key technologies and 2. To emphasize merit in the selection and appointment of top managers of the Agencies within the Ministry. 3. A concurrent strategy was to select target technologies and act to acquire capacity and projects by going directly to the frontiers of the technologies to gain competitive advantages in commerce and development. In other words, Prof. Isoun believed that Nigerians (indeed, Africans) did not need to master obsolete science and technology when it was possible to go straight to the cutting edge of essential and readily applicable technologies. There were challenges that this approach would face of course.There were numerous instances of competition for resources and obstructive protection of turf and territory by different ministries and parastatals. There was a debate as to whether a Ministry of Science and Technology should stand alone or be embedded in The Presidency. Technology needs to be driven by the vision, political will, conviction and sustained commitment of all tiers and sectors of governments. In spite of the challenges, Prof. Isoun was convinced that Nigeria must acquire such versatile technologies as space, ICT, biotechnology, energy, and climate change adaptation technologies if it were to be positioned strategically for high tech acquisition and implementation for local industrial, economic and social development. More importantly the acquisition and application of high technologies in Nigeria would ensure that the country would of right, take its place at the tables where far-reaching decisions are made that reflect the major security and equity challenges of the world in order to protect and develop its people - from Amzon 

Contents

Part I:
THE TARGET TECHNOLOGIES AND ENABLING STRUCTURES

Chapter1. Space…………………………………………………………....................................p. 1
Appendices
1.1 major representative pilot projects for which Nigeria
SAT-1data were used……………………………………………….......................................p. 79
1.2 A bill for an act to establish the National Space Research and Development Agency (extracts)……………………………………p. 87
1.3 Road map for Nigerian Space Mission-2005-2030(extracts)……................p. 89
1.4 Report of investigative hearing on NigComSat-1…………………....................p. 98

Chapter 2. Information and Communication Technologies……………..............…..p.107
Appendices
2.1natinal Information Technology Development Agency Act, 2007(Extracts)……………………………………………………….........................................P.147
2.2 National Information and Communication Technology
ICT Policy (extracts)…………………………………………………....................................P..150
2.3 National ICT Infrastructure Backbone (NICTIB)…………………......................p.155
2.4 Address-Commissioning Of Galaxy Backbone Plc. Head Office Abuja Metropolitan Area Network and Government Data Centre Facility…..................................P. 163

Chapter 3.Biotechnology……………………………………………….................................p. 165
Appendices
3.1 Marine and Coastal Wetlands Resources……………………….................…P. 231
3.2 Status of Genetic Resources Conservation and Use in Nigeria…........P. 243
3.3 Chemical Technology Applications for Nigerian Bioresearches
Utilization and Management (Extracts)………………………………............................p. 251
3.4 Biosafety Guidelines………………………………………….......................................p. 259
3.5 Extracts: National Biosafty Management Agency Act …………...................…P.267

Chapter 4. Energy …………………………………………………………................................p. 273
Appendices
4.1 Wind Energy Resources Mapping and Related Works………….............P.301
4.2 Jatropha: Promotion of the Adoption and Production Background.............P.305
4.3 Road Map for the Generation of Electricity from
Nuclear Sources in Nigeria. Report of the Technical
Committee, January 2005(extracts)………………………………….............................p.308

Chapter 5. Climate Change, Environment and Adaption………………..................p. 315
Appendix
5.1 The Green Wall Sahara Project …………………………………..............................p. 367

Part II:
FOUNDATIONS REQUIRED FOR JOINING THE HI-TECH REVOLUTION

Chapter 6. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises …………………….......................p.375
Policies, Incubations Centers, Success Stories

Chapter 7. Capacity Building ……………………………………………..............................p.421
formal education, professionalization of
skills, proprietary knowledge, contribution of Diaspora

Chapter 8. support systems ………………………………………………............................p. 453
Nigerian national science foundation, intellectual propriety rights; management, science parks, manufacturing structures
Chapter 9. Globalization …………………………………………………................................p.511

Globalization, Foreign Direct Investment: Impact of Globalization, FDI, And Brain Drain; Sectors for Potentials for Investment, Africa’s Great Asian Opportunity; Technology Inflows into Nigeria

Chapter 10. Reforms …………………………………………………….................................p. 537
Technology/ Economy Status; Pillars: NEEDS, Honorary Presidential Advisory Council. Implementation of Reforms (Harmonization of Institutions), National Research and Development Coordinating Council (With UNESCO Etc); Bill for Establishment of STIF Fund

Appendix
10.1 Executive Summary of the National Economic Empowerment
Development Strategy (NEEDS)…………………………………………............................P. 571

10.2 Peer Review of The Federal Ministry of Science And Technology.............P. 577

10.3 Position of the Ministry of Science and Technology on the
Proposed National Research and Development Co-Coordinating
Council (NRDCC)………………………………………………………..................................…P. 582