No nation can meaningfully develop without science and technology. The required levels of productivity needed to create the mass prosperity necessary to give a majority of society a chance at decent, dignified and flourishing lives only come through unrelenting efforts dedicated to scientific research and having that research translated into technological products that raise a society’s capabilities as regards the production increasingly sophisticated goods and services. To that end it behooves every nation’s government to implement policies that help boost its people’s abilities to carry out scientific research and build technology-based businesses. Nigeria in this regard, is no different but its record of turning science policy into meaningful development on the ground has been less than stellar to put it mildly. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to review its Science and Technology Innovation (STI) policies, and in this article we shall do so from 1999 till date.
The first major post-democracy STI policy was the National Policy on Science and Technology, which was introduced in 2003. The major thrusts of the policy were as follows:
- Building Research and Development (R&D) infrastructure, promoting indigenous technology, and enhancing coordination among research institutions.
- Emphasis placed on the role of science in improving quality of life and economic productivity.
In 2011, the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy by the Goodluck Jonathan administration. Key features of the policy include:
- Human resource development in STI
- Intellectual property rights protection
- Technology transfer and diffusion
- Inclusion of women and youth in STI
There were notable differences between this policy and the earlier one of 2003. In general, the policy shifted focus from basic science to innovation and commercialization. The table below shows the major differences between the two policies:
The years 2012 and 2013 saw the development of the implementation framework for the 2011 policy. Key features of the framework include:
- Establishment of the National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC) chaired by the President.
- Creation of the National Research and Innovation Fund (NRIF) to finance STI activities.
- Adoption of the Triple Helix Model—linking government, academia, and industry to drive innovation.
In 2018, the Buhari administration introduced the Revised Science, Technology and Innovation Policy. The revision in 2018 built on the earlier policies of 2003 and 2011, but also introduced new directions to reflect global trends in digital transformation, climate resilience, and inclusive innovation. Key features include:
- Strong emphasis on converting research into marketable products and services.
- Tailored approaches for priority sectors (Agriculture, Health, Energy, ICT, Environment and Manufacturing)
- Strengthened the role of institutions like National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP)
- Promoted local adaptation of foreign technologies and indigenous innovation.
- Reinforced the National Research and Innovation Council (NRIC) as a presidential-level body to coordinate STI policy.
- Proposed dedicated funding for STI activities.
- Aimed to increase Nigeria’s R&D spending toward the UNESCO-recommended 1% of GDP.
- Promoted STEM education, technical skills, and gender inclusion.
- Supported youth entrepreneurship in science and tech sectors.
- STI positioned as a tool for achieving SDGs—especially in health, education, and climate action.
- Encouraged adoption of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), and big data.
- Supported digital Micro-, Small-, and Medium-scale Enterprises (MSMEs) and innovation hubs.
- Strengthened Intellectual Property (IP) frameworks to encourage innovation and protect inventors.
- Introduced performance indicators for STI institutions.
- Emphasized evidence-based policymaking and impact tracking.
This policy laid the groundwork for later initiatives like the Nigeria Startup Act (2022) and the Digital MSME Academy (2024)
In 2020, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy was devised by the Ministry of Communications. The policy intersected heavily with STI goals. Key features include:
- Promotion of broadband access, digital literacy, and tech entrepreneurship.
- Provision of support to MSMEs in adopting digital tools and platforms.
In 2022, the Buhari administration enacted the Nigeria Start-up Act. This was a landmark legal framework to support tech-enabled startups and innovation-driven MSMEs. Some of its provisions included:
- Offered tax incentives, regulatory sandboxes, and access to funding.
- Strengthened Nigeria’s STI ecosystem by formalizing the role of startups in national development.
In mid-2023, the newly installed Tinubu administration launched the Revised National MSME Policy. The policy had actually been drafted under the previous Buhari administration. The 2023 policy integrated STI into MSME development, emphasizing digital transformation, green innovation, and export readiness. It also encouraged clustering of science-based enterprises and partnerships with research institutions.
[Talk about problems facing STI policy implementation]
It will probably be obvious that the impact of indigenous science and technological development on Nigerian society has been at best marginal. This strongly suggests that there have been significant challenges with and the limitations STI policy implementation in Nigeria. Some of the challenges include:
- Fragmented implementation across ministries
- Limited funding for R&D (below UNESCO’s recommended 1% of GDP)
- Weak academia–industry linkages
- Brain drain and underutilization of scientific talent
Solving these challenges are the key to enabling the mass prosperity that the bulk of Nigerian society desperately seek and feels disenfranchised from.
