A great deal has changed over the past decade or so. In fact, the most recent changes in science policy in Nigeria date back to the mid 1980s when the national government deemed it necessary to revise the way in which it interacts with the nation’s scientific enterprise. Until that time, when it came to Science and Technology, the role of Nigeria’s national government was conducted largely through a coordinating agency. The national government sought to make sure that there was as little duplication of effort as possible. Beginning with the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo, who assumed office in 1999, things began to change dramatically. The federal government not only continued to seek to coordinate Nigeria’s overall research efforts but also acquired direct responsibility for overseeing frontline research initiatives – for example, in information technologies, energy, material Science, space technology and biotechnology. The goal was not just to make the nation’s scientific enterprise more efficient, which remains in place today, but to help build scientific capacity and to lay a strong foundation for science-based development. This transformation is based on the principle that Science and technology capabilities are prerequisites for wealth creation and social and economic progress. While that may seem self-evident today, it was not so evident throughout much of the last half of the 20th century when African nations were emerging from decades of colonial rule and establishing themselves as independent countries. In the post-World War II period and indeed up to the end of the 20^th century, most developing nations, especially those in Africa. Read more!