FCSC Chairman urges stronger government-scholar collaboration for Africa’s growth
Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has called for deeper collaboration between government, researchers, and scholars to drive meaningful policy reforms and sustainable development in Africa. He made the call while speaking at the 1st International Conference on Public Policy, Governance and Development organized by the Department of Public Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Delivering a keynote address titled “Building a Promising Future in Africa through Policy Re-Evaluation: The Defining Issues in Perspective,” Olaopa stressed the need to realign policy processes with the realities of a rapidly changing world marked by climate change, terrorism, cybercrime, and post-pandemic economic shifts.
He warned against overreliance on foreign donors, stating that many African policies are crafted based on external conditions, with minimal input from local researchers. This, he said, results in policies that are often disconnected from local needs and realities.
Olaopa also highlighted the tension between long-term academic research and the short-term political cycle, noting that politicians often favor fast-tracked policies that yield immediate political gains, while meaningful research typically takes time to mature and influence outcomes.
Other challenges he outlined include weak research-industry linkages, low funding, bureaucratic delays, brain drain, poor commercialization of research, and lack of motivation among scholars—factors he said stifle innovation and progress.
To address these gaps, Olaopa advocated for participatory policymaking that includes stakeholders across all levels. He emphasized the importance of integrating research institutions, think tanks, and universities into a formal, government-led policy ecosystem.
He encouraged research bodies to shift toward interdisciplinary and applied research that balances academic rigor with the practical needs of governance. This, he said, would improve planning, design, and implementation of development programs.
Olaopa concluded by urging investment in human capital, better budget alignment, improved monitoring and evaluation systems, and the use of digital tools to enhance transparency, track policy performance, and strengthen adaptive decision-making in Nigeria and across Africa.
