The InfoStride Forum

• Formulation of appropriate policies in the Physical and Life Sciences.
• Formulation of appropriate policies on IPR, Sui-Generis, Quality Assurance and Traditional Knowledge Systems for the enhancement of the socio-economic status of the indigenous communities.
• Monitoring and Coordination of R&D Findings in Space Technology.
• Monitoring and Coordination of R&D Findings in Earth Sciences.
• Monitoring and Coordination of R&D Findings in Bioresouces.
• Monitoring and Coordination of R&D Findings in Health Sciences.
• Monitoring and Coordination of R&D Findings in Natural Medicine and Traditional knowledge Systems.
• Formulation and promotion of appropriate guidelines on conservation, Utilization development and commercialization of Bioresources.
• Promote, Encourage and monitor the local production of Drugs, Vaccines and Biologicals.
• Collaborations with local and international Agencies/Bodies in the Implementation and execution of the Department's mandates.
• Monitoring and Coordination of Programmes and Activities of Parastatals under the purview of the Department viz : SHESTCO, NABDA, NNMDA, NASRDA and NITR.
• Organization of and Participation in International and Local Workshops, Seminars, Meetings, Technical Fora etc.

OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS

The Department supervises the following Parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, and also coordinates their policies alongside programmes implementation;

National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Abuja and their Centers Namely: -

• Center for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD), Abuja;
• National Center for Remote Sensing (NCRS), Jos;
• Center for Geodesy and Geodynamics (CGG) Toro, Bauchi State;
• Center for Space Transport and Propulsion (CSTP) Epe, Lagos State;
• Center for Basic Space Science(CBSS) at University of Nigeria Nsukka; and
• African Regional Center for Space Science and Technology Education (ARCSSTE-E) Ile-Ife.

National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Abuja, and its Zonal Centers as follows:

• Bioresources Development Center (BIODEC), Odi, Bayelsa State;
• Biotechnology Center, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (North-West);
• Biotechnology Center, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri (North-East);
• Biotchnology Center, University of Jos, Jos (North-Central);
• Biotechnology Center, University of Ibadan, Ibadan (South-West);
• Biotechnology Center, University of Nigeria, Nsukka(South-east);
• Biotechnology Center, University of Portharcourt, Port-Harcourt (South-South); and
• National Center for Genetic Resource and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan.

Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), Abuja.

Nigeria Institute for Trypanosomiasis and Onchocerciasis Research (NITR), Kaduna.

Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), Lagos

 Divisions (http://www.theinfostride.com/#Divisions)

ORGANIZATION OF THE PHYSICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES DEPARTMENT

For the purposes of efficiency and effective coordination, the Department of Physical and Life Science is structured into three Divisions, six Branches and twelve Sections as depicted on the table 1 below:

Table 1. Organizational Flow

Structure	Description	Officers in Charge
Department	Department of Physical and Life Sciences	Director

3 Divisions

1	Earth and Space Sciences	DD
2	Bioresources  Research and Development	DD
3	Health Sciences Research and Development	DD

[/tr]  [/table]

1	Earth Science R&D	AD
2	Space Science R&D	AD
3	Biotechnology R&D	AD
4	Conservation/Utilization R&D	AD
5	Natural Medicine R&D	AD
6	Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences R&D	AD

12 Sections

1	Oceanography and Marine	CSO
2	Geology/Soil	CSO
3	Conventions/Protocols	CSO
4	Environmental Technology	CSO
5	Bioproducts Development and Commercialization	CSO
6	Bioinformatics/Sustainability Sciences	CSO
7	Conservation	CSO
8	Utilization	CSO
9	Traditional Medicine Practices and Technologies	CSO
10	Traditional Knowledge Systems	CSO
11	Pharmaceutical Sciences	CSO
12	Medical Sciences	CSO

24 Sub Sections

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Marine Oceanography Geology Soil Conventions Protocols Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Environmental Technologies Pollution Control/Waste Management Bioinformatics (Data Management) Bioproducts Development Bioproducts Commercialization In-situ Conservation Ex-situ Conservation Quality Assurance Trials Traditional Medicine Practices Traditional Medicine Technologies Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) Indigenous Knowledge Systems Systematics Natraceuitcals Environmental Health Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases

ACSOs, PSOs, SSOs, SOIs and SOIIs.

Some Activities

• Development and Equipping of national Science and Technology Museum.
• Coordination/Monitoring of Parastatals under the purview of Physical and Life Sciences Department (NABDA, NASRDA, NITR, NNMDA, SHESTCO;
• Inventory/Survey of Nigeria's Bioresources Project
• Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration on Bioresources Conservation and Utilization.
• Assessment of the Quality of Locally Produced Raw Materials for Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals and Industrial uses.
• Hosting the Climate Change Desk of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology
• Representing FMST on matters relating to the following;

• Agriculture
• Environment and Ecology
• Climate Change
• Disaster and Emergency Management (DEM)
• Earth Sciences
• Health
• Food and Nutrition Quality (Codex)
• Science Education
• Scientific and Technological Research and Development
• Space Technology
• Biotechnology
• Basic Sciences

• Water Resources
• Relevant Conventions and Protocols

Organogram (http://www.theinfostride.com/#Organogram)


 Director (http://www.theinfostride.com/#Director)




Dr. Manasseh Gwaza is the Director, Department of Physical and Life Sciences of the Ministry. He hails from Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1981, a Masters Degree in Management (Health Systems Management) from the Federal University of Technology, Akure in 2002, and obtained a Doctorate Degree in Health Care Management from the Commonwealth University, Belize, British West Indies in 2009.

Dr. Gwaza began his professional work experience as Health Care Practitioner at the Hospitals Management Board, Makurdi in 1981 before proceeding to the University of Jos as a Lecturer in 1990. After a brief stint with the services of the University of Jos, he took up an appointment as the Executive Director, Metrople Projects Consortium (Project Health Consultants) in 1994, and from there, he joined the services of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology as an Assistant Director in the defunct Health Sciences Department in 2001.

In 2005, Dr. Gwaza was appointed the Acting Director, Health Sciences Department.  Thereafter, he was promoted to the rank Deputy Director in 2008 and Acting Director, Department of Physical and Life Sciences. He rose to rank of Director in January 2013.

Presently as the Director, his duties have expanded and included mentoring and development of sub-ordinates Officers; policy formulation, analysis, review and implementation of Health Science, Technology and Innovation (H, S, T&I) research and development (R&D) activities, projects and programmes, monitoring and coordination of  Agencies under the purview of the Physical and Life Sciences Department viz; National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) and the National Institute for Trypanosomiasis and Onchocerciasis Research (NITR).

At several times, Dr Manasseh Gwaza had served as the Representative of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology on the following Boards/Committees:

• Governing Board of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja;
• Nigeria Institute for Trypanosomiasis and Onchocerciasis Research (NITR);
• Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO);
• Amadu Ali Centre for Public Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Agriculture, Makurdi;
• Dental Technologists Registration Board of Nigeria;
• Presidential Committee on Local production of Artemisinin Combinations Therapy (ACTs) and antiretroviral (AVR) Drugs;
• Resource Person for the 2011 Promotion Examination of the Directorate Cadre Staff organized by the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC);
• Reproductive Health Stakeholders' Forum for Development of Plan for Health Sector Response to HIV/AIDS;
• Presidential Committee on the Pharmaceutical Sector;
• Nigeria National Health Research Policy Committee;
• Inter-Ministerial Committee on Health Impact of Mt. Cameroon and Lake Nyos;
• Inter-Ministerial Committee on In-vitro Fertilization Research Project in Nigeria;
• Inter-Ministerial Committee on  Monitoring and Evaluation of Test Kits for HIV, Malaria as well as Hepatitis B and C; AND
• Technical Sub-Committee of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Lead Poisoning in Zamfara State.

He also served as the Project Manager (PM), HIV/AIDS World Bank-Assisted Project in FMST from 2005 to 2010, where he championed significant and meaningful contributions to the National Response in the control and prevention of the scourge. The innovative interventions included designing, production and circulation of the following vital documents:

•  HIV/AIDS Work Place Policy and Information Education and Communication (IEC), Materials, Brochures, Leaflets and Posters for use by the Ministry's staff, family members, clients; and

•    Facilitator's Manual for the Training of the Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) on the Control and Prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Gwaza brought unrivaled Leadership, Managerial and Supervisory (LMS) competences gathered over the years to illicit quartile quality service delivery, thus facilitating the implementation of multi-sectoral and cross cutting activities resulting to multiple potential beneficial impacts on Nigerians and the international community.

Dr. Gwaza has attended well over 50 Conferences, Workshops, and Seminars within and outside Nigeria and had received the FMST commendation for satisfactory Projects Accomplishment in 2005. He is married and blessed with five children.

 





Via: Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) Nigeria