KNOWLEDGE-DRIVEN AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT THE NATION’S INFRASTRUCTURAL DRIVE.

BY Orimaye, O.S., Ogunnaike, A.F. Department of Agricultural and Bio-

Environmental Engineering, The Federal Polytechnic, P.M.B 5351, Ado-

Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.E-mail: familiaa4real@gmail.com,

ogunnaikeaderoju@gmail.com 05/02/23 1

INTRODUCTIONIt is a general believe that the existence and

development of any country, government, companies, organizations and non-governmental organizations depends on research. Research, which is assumed to be very important, has claimed to be a veritable tool in the area of development and achievement. Research works, which has helped so many organizations in both developed and developing countries in many ways which make it to be termed “critical and most important aspect of development” to be reckoned with; especially when we are talking about major advancement and development in the 21st century. The word “Knowledge-driven and research and development”, may be a new language or phrase in the area of development to support the nations infrastructural drive, but it has been, as a matter of fact used in so many articles, journals and many online encyclopedia.05/02/23 2

. The act of knowledge-driven in relation to research and development to support the nation’s infrastructural drive through engineering profession is another specific area of importance which has been neglected; which is also a critical aspect of development especially in engineering. Knowledge –driven, which has to do with the technical know-how in the area of development of some infrastructure and also, which have to do with the personal understanding of individual in a certain or specific area of profession with information and understanding about a subject which a person has, or which all people have; either in engineering or any other discipline. A knowledge-driven economy is one in which the generation and use of knowledge will come to play the major part in the creation of wealth. It is not simply about pushing back the frontiers of knowledge; it is also about the effective use and exploitation of different types of knowledge in all manner of economic activity to achieve developmental goals. 05/02/23 3

. Research and Development (R&D), which is also known in Europe as research and technical (or technological) development (RTD), is a general term for activities in connection with corporate or governmental innovation. Experts agree that research and development (R&D) is the backbone of a globally competitive, knowledge-driven economy in which R&D investment helps develop new products and services that drive growth, create jobs, and improve the national welfare. . In either case, R&D differs from the vast majority of corporate activities in that it is not often intended to yield immediate profit, and generally carries greater risk and an uncertain return on investment. En.wikipedia.org (2015). This special area which has been overlooked by so many engineers has in one way or the other affected the development of engineers and also the engineering profession as a whole because Without R&D program, a firm must rely on strategic alliances, acquisitions, and networks to tap into the innovations of others. In general, R&D activities are conducted by specialized units or centers belonging to a company, or can be out-sourced to a contract research organization, universities, or state agencies.

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Nanjundaiah, (2011) explain that, In reality, the knowledge-driven economic growth process through research creates, disseminates, strengthen education systems, promote research and development in a variety of fields, and partner with foreign sources to expand learning, target health, agriculture, and government and industry sectors to balance traditional knowledge, innovation encouragement and revise governance through technology. It also focus on wide spread basic education for all citizens, especially those marginalized groups, create a culture of learning, foster improved literacy, create lifelong opportunities for skill acquirement, improve information and communication technology (ICT) and enhance standards of education through public awareness. 05/02/23 5

VARIOUS WAYS BY WHICH KNOWLEDGE-DRIVEN CAN BE PROPERLY HARNESSED FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Knowledge and information networks and

exchanges: formal and informal groups that provide Platforms for collaboration and exchange of knowledge for further enhancement; by developing basic ideas through research.

Proper funding of individual or group research that is related to technical know-how on a particular area or field of profession.

Increasing recognition in technological innovations and also support further developmental ideas either by individual or group of people.

Government should encourage individual or group of people with basic knowledge on a particular subject or area through giving of grants, awards, scholarships e.t.c 05/02/23 6

Government should see knowledge as the latest stage of development in national and global economic restructuring.

knowledge-driven economy can use knowledge to generate tangible and intangible values in the area of infrastructure and Technology and in particular the knowledge of technology which can help to transform a part of human knowledge to machines. This knowledge can be used by decision support systems in various fields and generate economic values.

Extensive budget and training on knowledge management, intellectual property management, rights and efficient regulatory framework which are essential to global standard knowledge driven economy and steady state productivity in both developing and industrialized countries.

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HOW TO ACHIEVE NATIONAL INTEGRATED INFRASTRUCTURAL MASTER PLAN THROUGH ENGINEERING PROFESSION.

Proper planning and timely execution of projects that has to do with national development.

Partnering with national and international investors in the area of engineering to provide engineering infrastructure.

Advancing integration, implementation and coherence by assessing progress to date and bridging the gaps in the implementation of major projects for sustainable development and also addressing new and emerging challenges.

There should be timely provision of clear and definitive information to Nigerians and all stakeholders that will be an integral part of the projects from their inception and also creating proper plan for implementation. This will help to ensure that misconceptions are minimized, and also promote favorable reception of the policy and understanding of government activity and projects.

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The general focus should be on core area of infrastructure, including en ergy (power and oil and gas), transport (roads, rail, ports and airports), housing, water resources, Information and Communication Technology and Agriculture.

The council for regulation of engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian society for engineers (NSE) and the monitoring team of federal government should ensure proper monitoring and assessment of ongoing projects to avoid abandoned projects and also to ensure proper engineering design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of executed projects.

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SOME CRITICAL APPROACH TOWARDS SOLVING INTENDING CHALLENGES THAT MAY CAUSE SETBACK FOR STRATEGIES OF IMPLEMENTATION IN ACHIEVING NATIONAL INTEGRATED INFRASTRUCTURE MASTER PLAN (NIIMP).

The executive committees, sub-committees and the state infrastructure working groups, COREN and NSE should advise the Federal government within the limit of their capabilities for proper funding and timely execution of projects.

The federal government should ensure that private sector investment in public infrastructure should be a continuous process.05/02/23 10

The National integrated infrastructure master plan that was put together by stakeholders, which has been presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and which has been dully approved should be strictly followed and also, should be properly handed-over to any incoming government.

Any incoming government should ensure proper implementation from where the previous government stopped.

There should be more focus and dedication on the part of federal government in the area of NIIMP for more development.

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STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF LOCAL RESEARCH FOR PROPER DEVELOPMENT OF OUR ECONOMYThere should be Creation of data based

system for federal and state ministries, parastatals, universities, schools e.t.c for collection and collation of local researches or projects.

Proper funding of individual or group research that is related to technical know-how on a particular area or field of profession.

Increasing recognition for individual or group of people with technological innovations through local research and also support further developmental ideas through local research either by individual or group of people.

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There should be targets of using local researches with available natural resources in our environment for the development of the environment.

There should be financial and monetary policies to transform the growth model of the economy through local researches.

There should be focus on investing and developing technical infrastructure and improving the development of local researches by the three tiers of government in our country.

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CONCLUSION In order to achieve timely execution of

National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, it is of the opinion that all mentioned points in this paper should be looked into and proper communiqué should be sent to the appropriate authority including the federal government for proper and necessary implementation.

The federal government should ensure that; there is more commitment from the three tiers of government in this country towards sustainable development and speedy implementation of NIIMP.05/02/23 14

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