LAWRENCE EDET NSA - St Clements University

This chequered history of the evolution of Research and
Technology Organizations in Nigeria is a testimony of
concerted efforts towards using the instruments of Science
and Technology to bring about development. As pointed out
by eminent scientific scholars such as: given the colonial roots
of RTOs, linkages with end users of research results and the
larger society were not there. Research therefore was seen as
consumption rather than an investment with high potential to
turn the economy around. These scholars also observed that
RTOs remained isolated and alienated from the productive
sector (industries) that are the expected beneficiaries of
research findings.
This view was further corroborated by Aluko-Olokun
(1999: 139-48) in his comment on a study carried out in 1985
by UNESCO where it was observed, that “S & T policy-
making machinery in Nigeria does not seem to have worked
out any systematic or comprehensive R & D strategy for
advancing industrial technology”.
The situation is understandable when viewed from two
perspectives; the colonial antecedents to the establishment of
RTOs and the nationalist approach. Having briefly examined
the first aspect it is desirable to look at the nationalist
approach. This approach was anchored on three broad but
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