March 12, 2025
Experts in the science and technology space have called on policy makers to apply system thinking and system dynamics in public policy making in Nigeria.
The experts, in a workshop tagged: “Application of System Thinking and System Dynamics for Transforming Public Policymaking Processes in Nigeria,’’ argued that system thinking was an effective tool for understanding and analysing situations.
System thinking is an approach to problem solving that views problems as part of a wider dynamic system, while system dynamics is a methodology and mathematical modelling technique for strategy development.
Dr Olusola Odusanya, Director General of NACETEM, stated that in policy making, it was critical to understand how to analyse a system, and how it operates in order to solve problems.
He said in challenging times and situations, application of system thinking helps one understand the system better, and knowledge which is fundamental, encourages and strengthens in tweaking the system.
Odusanya, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the event said, “gaining more knowledge is fundamental and understanding how to read situations is a key.’’
According to him, it is time to start using system thinking as a tool in public service and among policy makers for them to understand that every policy action has a repercussion.
“We shared the example of the policy on removal of fuel subsidy which has consequences in different areas.
“But with a systems thinking ideology, we are able to manage the consequences in such a way that the positive attributes that contribute to overall economic growth are the areas to emphasise, ‘’ Odusanya said.
Prof Azikiwe Onwualu, President, African University of Science and Technology (AUST), also told NAN that any good policy in Nigeria recognised the concept of system thinking.
Onwualu said it was imperative that every professional in government agency, even in industry should know about systems thinking.
He supported his argument that even though a policy was designed for a particular thematic area, it should be understood that such policy would impact other sectors of the economy.
“Otherwise you may run the risk of the policy affecting other sectors negatively,’’ he said.
Citing various examples, the AUST President maintained that systems thinking ensured that all factors and variables are taken into consideration for optimal performance of the economy.
He said from their research studies, it was realised that the knowledge of systems thinking was lacking in many professionals within the development space, and that the training was necessary.
He added that the training would enable the beneficiaries to approach matters with a wider perspective on how their policy decisions would affect other sectors.
“So that when there are negative impacts, it would be possible to pre-empt them and prevent them from happening,’’ Onwualu said.
The workshop was organised by the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) and supported by the African University of Science and Technology.
Prof Stefano Armenia, President, Italian Chapter of the System Dynamics Society gave a keynote lecture on: “Thinking in Systems’’(NAN/Mainstream News Global)