About NYA
NYA
Introduction
The Nigerian Young Academy was established in August 2010 by the pioneering effort of the Nigeria Academy of Science (NAS), supported by Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE) and the Nigerian Academy of Engineering.
The Nigerian Young Academy is a unified platform for interaction among brilliant young researchers in Nigeria (not above the age of 40 years at the point of entry) who are from various research disciplines and regions of the country.
The academy seeks to nurture outstanding and aspiring youthful academics and professionals towards improving the state of the nation. The academy recognizes excellence among young researchers nationally and promotes the application of collective research findings for the improvement of the quality of the society. It also plays a crucial role in building inspirational figures for a new generation of researchers.
The Inter Academy Panel on International Issues (IAP), in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF), convened two successive meetings in 2008 and 2009, for a group of young researchers from more than 50 countries (Nigeria inclusive) to discuss science and its role in the future development of society. As an outcome of these meetings, the young researchers initiated and established the Global Young Academy (GYA) in Berlin on the 16th of February, 2010, with support from the IAP and The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS).
As a fallout of establishment of the GYA in Berlin, it was agreed that there will be the formation of the national chapters through existing Senior National Academies, such as the Nigerian Academy of Science.
At the instance of the Global Young Academy (GYA), the Nigerian Young Academy (NYA) was inaugurated on 30th of August, 2010 by the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) with the support of the Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE) and the Nigerian Academy of Engineering.
In Nigeria, the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) facilitated a workshop at the Redeemer’s University, Mowe (from 29th – 30th August, 2010) to establish the NYA. The Nigerian Young Academy (NYA) was inaugurated on Monday, August 30, 2010 at the close of the Inaugural Workshop held at the Redeemers University, Mowe (now Ede). Some key participants at the inauguration were the incumbent President of the Nigeria Academy of Science, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe; the first Vice President of the Nigerian Academy of Education, Prof. Nduka Otonti; and the Vice President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Prof. Ayodele Ogunye. Professor Oyewale Tomori, the then Vice-Chancellor of the Redeemer’s University who later became president of the Nigerian Academy of Science, was also instrumental to the establishment of the Academy.
- Nurture outstanding and aspiring youthful academics and professionals towards improving the state of the nation.
- Recognize excellence among young researchers nationally
- Promote the application of collective research findings for the improvement of the quality of the society.
- Building inspirational figures for a new generation of researchers.
The NYA has her core values entrenched in integrity and excellence in research, and fostering research collaborations among young researchers nationally and internationally.
SCOPE OF THE ACADEMY
The NYA has her core values entrenched in integrity and excellence in research, and fostering research collaborations among young researchers nationally and internationally.
The scope of the Nigerian Young Academy is to provide recognition for excellence and raise the profile of young researchers nationally. Additionally, members are expected to play a crucial role as inspirational figures for a new generation of researchers, and raise the profile of Science, Humanities, Arts and Education. The NYA is the unified platform for the exchange of ideas across disciplines and regions, nurturing outstanding and aspiring young academics and professionals towards improving the state of the nation.
- The NYA has her core values entrenched in integrity and excellence in research, and fostering research collaborations among young researchers nationally and internationally.
OPERATIONS OF THE ACADEMY
To ensure the smooth operations within the NYA, a policy document and constitution was formulated at its inception. This has since been reviewed and adopted for use by the Academy. This document essentially guides the general operations of the Academy and is upheld by the Executive Committee (EC) under the leadership of the President of the Academy. The EC meet virtually on a monthly basis and holds two physical meetings annually. The General Assembly (comprising all current NYA members) is the highest decision-making body of the NYA. After a membership tenure of five years, a member exits the NYA and is subsequently conferred the fellowship of the academy – Fellow NYA.
With a national membership spread but a lack of permanent physical secretariat infrastructure, operating a secretariat is an area where considerable time and effort has to be invested to have a functional Academy. The secretariat is mobile but robust enough to efficiently handle the operations of the NYA. The secretariat under the leadership of the General Secretary and the President, administers issues such as issuing membership certificates (given alongside the constitution to new members during induction), providing membership information and register, general correspondence with NYA members, GYA and other interested parties, and keeping full digital records of all Academy documents. However, there are ongoing efforts towards having a permanent physical secretariat in the near future. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Academy of Science is presently hosting the NYA’s Project Assistant employed at the middle of 2021, being a further step in the Academy’s efforts to have a physical secretariat.