THE ROLE OF LAW IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Law serves a myriad of functions in any society; from its obvious roles of maintenance of order and dispensation of justice, to its less apparent function of social engineering. The notion that the law should not merely issue legal sanctions by looking at people’s faults but should change citizens’ behaviour for society’s welfare is a widely recognized idea. It is on the above recognized premise of law as an instrument of social engineering; conferred on it by its ability to encourage or deter behaviour that its role in the development or regression of any field or sector emanates. This paper seeks to explore the state of science and technology in Nigeria, the sector’s relationship with the law and the role of law in the development and advancement of science and technology in Nigeria. The paper concludes that law plays a very important role in the development of science and technology especially in any developing nation.