Can science save Africa?

Lazarus Sauti

Commenting on science, Martin Luther King Jr once said, “Science investigates; science gives man knowledge, which is power; and science deals mainly with facts.”

Isaac Asimov, a Russian-born, American author, a professor of biochemistry, and a highly successful writer, was also quoted saying that there is a single light of science, and to brighten it anywhere is to brighten it everywhere.

These two quotes show the power of science.

To further expose the power of science, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is on record saying Africa should transform itself from being a mere producer of raw materials but instead harness science for value addition programmes.

He always referred to the primary development of African economies which are mainly based on agriculture and mining saying these economic activities can be further enhanced through harnessing science.

As Sub-Saharan Africa develops rapidly, it is estimated that the continent will need millions of scientists to reach its full developmental agenda.

The biggest question therefore is, “Can science save Sub Saharan Africa?”

Former Zimbabwe’s Science and Technology Development Minister, Dr Heneri Dzinotyiwei believes science can do the job as it is the driving force behind every human activity.

Sharing same sentiments, one of Africa’s most prominent scientists Arthur Mutambara said, “Science has the potential to boost poor countries’ GDP to unprecedented levels through application in agriculture, mining, energy development and other sectors of the economy. Therefore, science can save Africa from its pressing problems.”

To further heighten the importance of science, Mohamed Hag Ali Hassan, a scientist, notes that Africa’s most serious problems such as malnutrition, disease and environmental degradation cannot be addressed without a critical mass of African scientists working on issues of direct concern to the continent itself.

Accordingly, Africa and her citizenry must continue to innovate and embrace science as a tonic to economic transformation. This is so because science has the potential to empower, educate and save lives; and it can take Africa towards high-definition development.

One broadcaster in Zimbabwe said: “Africa is endowed with natural resources which we sell to the West for a song and the West in turn develops products that are then sold for a fortune to Africa. For Africa to come on the game play and reach its high-definition development, Africans should unite and speak with one voice.”

The broadcaster goes on to say, “Science can save Africa [no doubt] but we have to answer the funding issue first.”

Besides the issue of funding, Science and Technology policy scholar Nicholas Michael Bashour believes lack of adequate research infrastructure in Africa has implications beyond research productivity.

Bashour further said constantly injecting money into African research without prioritising investment in its wider scientific ecosystem by supporting infrastructure development is proving to be a short-sighted and limited solution for expanding Africa’s role in global science and addressing the continent’s socio-economic concerns.

“In most African countries, support for science and research infrastructure lags far behind that for other types of infrastructure projects, such as transport, water and power. It is certainly politically and socially difficult to justify spending money on a research laboratory or a data centre at the expense of a water sanitation treatment plant, for example,” explained Bashour.

To benefit from science, Africa should, therefore, emulate the success story of some Asian countries such as Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore.

Investment in science enabled these countries to develop infrastructure, helped local firms develop their own technologies and generated a large number of experienced researchers, who later played key roles in research and development activities.

Because of this, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation encouraged African countries to embrace science and to establish world-class facilities to advance the continent.

To achieve this goal, Africa must address problems associated with brain drain first. Sadly, there is a serious shortage of scientists in nearly all of Sub-Saharan Africa’s 48 countries, and this is seriously hampering development in the continent.

Solving the brain drain problem is easier. Africa must simply improve its science sector. This means African governments must work with stakeholders in the science and development fraternity to improve the sector since the act of improving and reviving science in Africa requires the support of national and international aid agencies and of scientists worldwide.

Since reviving science requires a multi-stakeholder approach, science graduates should also chip in by adding value to raw commodities. Colleges, universities and research institutes in Africa should thrive to produce well trained graduates in science based disciplines as they can also help the continent to find effective, cost-efficient, home-grown solutions to pressing development problems that are related to poverty, food security, climate change, urbanisation and health.

Sadly, many of Africa’s colleges, universities and research institutions are inadequately staffed and ill equipped and as a result, their quality of scientific work is compromised.

It is critical to note that science can only answer to Africa’s calls only if the continent has strong policies and strategies. Unfortunately, in many African countries, national policies and strategies to promote science are outdated.

This is according to Abdoulaye Janneh, executive secretary of the Addis Ababa-based UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

Janneh therefore urged African governments to come up with effective policies and strategies and he advised that these policies and strategies can only work if they are developed in consultation with all economic operators and stakeholders.

“Policies and strategies should also be incorporated into national legislation, and in the long term should provide incentives for investors to do business with and in Africa,” he added.

Frankly science can save Africa but African leaders should first stick to their pledges of devoting more resources to the development of science, an area deemed vital for economic development.

At a January 2007 summit of the continent’s political body, the African Union, heads of state “strongly urged” all African Union countries to allocate at least one per cent of their gross domestic product to research and development by 2020.

They also pledged to revitalise African universities – many of which have declined due to dwindling support over the last few decades – and to promote the study of science and technology by young people.

The leaders also agreed to a series of other initiatives like establishing a pan-African intellectual property organisation to help protect indigenous innovations and starting on a 20-year strategy to promote cooperation among states on research in biotechnology.

Science can save Africa. It is key in industrial growth. Industrial growth and science are synonymous in that one feeds into each other and conversely. Therefore, Africa must generate innovative strategies, for example, industrial clustering, whereby small business unite into a single sector under some common or digital infrastructure.