Political commitment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policy design and sustainable development: Lessons from Nigeria

Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) is significant from the perspective of ‘Global Agenda of 2030’ and for realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for enhanced productivity and value addition that can accelerate the competitiveness of a nation. However, the seemingly unsurmountable development challenges dominating African countries’ political economy reflect the existence of gap to be filled to boost the entire system's resilience for future development. This is directed at the level of political commitment of the leadership to which lip-service and insufficient research attention are directed. Consequently, this paper, relying on Fox et al.’s conceptual framework on political will, seeks to interrogate the desirability and implications of conscious political commitment to STI policy in Africa and the possibility of effective approaches of ensuring it or gauging its level. Qualitative and historical/documentary methods of analysis were employed. The result shows that rethinking political commitment will better equip governments with the necessary capabilities for comprehensive innovative STI policy design for achieving sustainable development more than mere rhetoric. The paper recommends clear and thoughtful political planning that embodies dedication to elaborate techniques of political diplomacy and collaboration among STI stakeholders. The paper provides an effective way of understanding the dynamics of political commitments and its implications for viable STI policy design and implementation.