Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Sulyman Abdulkareem Age, has advised secondary school students to devote time spent on the social media platforms for knowledge acquisition.
Speaking at the 12th Mosobalaje Oyawoye Faculty of Science endowed lecture, titled, Science and technology: tools for improving values for a better nation, on Thursday, Abdulkareem urged the youth to dedicate themselves to science and technology.
The programme was sponsored by Prof. Monmodu Jamiu Mosobalaje Oyawoye Foundation.
โI urge you to dedicate your time and energy to science and technology as you can access the latest innovation, experiment and inventions anywhere in the world via that miniaturised devices,โ the Vice Chancellor said.
In his remarks, Prof Oyawoje represented by his son, Prince Abdulganiyu Oyawole, disclosed that the foundation had invested about N10 million on this year’s programme but government policies had disallowed the committee from accessing the funds.
In his lecture, Prof. Edwin Adaikpoh of the Delta state University (DELSU), Abraka emphasised the imperativeness of research for technological development of the country.
Adaikpoh, a Geologist, added that science and technology received little or no attention from the private sector.
โFunding is from national treasury and influenced by the inherent negative effects of politics and bureaucracy. Scientific research has become increasingly expensive due to the cost of purchase and maintenance of equipment.
โIn Nigeria, like in most developing countries, universities and research centres do not focus their research to solve their national problems, needs of education, industries, agriculture and healthcare.
โGovernment goals are lacking and their scientists work in isolation and move in tandem with the objectives of those research centres
โTo improve science for national development, a suitable operational environment must be put in place and sustained. Operational indices for value improvement include human resources, adequate research facilities and adequate funding.โ
The guest lecturer lamented the wide gap between higher education and the industry in the country.
โCurrently, there is still a large gap between higher education and the industry. Very minor and spurious attempts are being offered by some companies but these so far have negligible effects. Stakeholders in higher education and industries should appreciate the need for each other in national development.
They should encourage and enhance university โ industry collaboration and technology transfer,โ he said.
….Reps c’ttee applauds institution for 17 yrs uninterrupted academic session
The House of Representatives Committee on Higher Education at the weekend applauded the University of Ilorin’s 17 years uninterrupted academic sessions.
The Chairman of the committee, Mallam Aminu Sule, gave the commendation when he spoke with newsmen after an oversight visit to the institution.
Sule said that the committee, among others looked at factors militating against effective education in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
Sule also said that the committee examined how capital funds released to higher institutions were appropriated and expended.
He expressed regrets that some higher institutions had not fully appropriated the capital from 2016 budget as there were still uncompleted projects in some of the institutions.
โThe budget has not been put to use to the latter,โ he said.
The lawmaker said government should examine factors responsible for strike in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
