April 18, (THEWILL)- Science lecturers and academics from Nigerian Universities, have urged President Bola Tinubu to revisit policies frustrating scientific innovation and economic development.
The University lecturers, in a communique issued at the end of the First Annual Faculty of Science International Conference, held at the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) Secretariat, with the theme “Harnessing Current and Emerging Scientific Innovation for Nation Building and Development in the 21st Century”, also urged the present administration not to jettison or sabotage national policies enacted by past administration’s geared towards national development.
The communique, issued after plenary and technical sessions with scientific papers and signed the Chairman, LOC AFSIC-NDU2024, Prof. Ebimieowei Etebu and the Dean, Faculty of Science, NDU, Prof. Azibaola Kesiye Inengite, noted that previous policies of the government that were posted to grow the nation’s technological base and improve the livelihoods of her nationals (Such as cassava policy), should be revised and brought on board by the present administration.
According to the communique, “Government should encourage the development of locally developed technological innovations through the formulation of relevant policies. There should be regular interaction between government, academics and industry to cross-fertilise ideas of raising the standard of life of her citizenry. The government should champion this cause.”
The university lecturers also called on the government to adequately fund the State and Federal University’s faculty of science, through the proper motivation of staff, provision of standard scientific laboratories, conducive learning classrooms and employment of staff.
The pool of academia however pointed out that the worry expressed on technology transfers and Japan syndrome may be misplaced, “there are numerous scientific findings stashed away in our institutional libraries and repositories that are yet untapped; due to lack of funding or because they were not industry-driven.”
“No nation would willingly transfer her technology to another. Every nation must develop and grow her technological base; hence there is a need for us to look inward in seeking ways to resolve our social challenges.”
“Most academics do not think beyond the classroom and publish scientific papers just for academic promotions. Our university students are mostly poorly trained l; a plethora of challenges limit a friendly teaching and learning environment, particularly in the sciences.”
They called on the management of the Nation’s Universities of Higher learning to design educational and training curricula be revised to meet current needs and realities,” Academics must begin to think outside the box, beyond the classroom and publishing scientific papers just for academic advancement but provide solutions to the challenges of their immediate environment and society; produce graduates with real-life problem-solving mentally.”
“Skill assessment be regularly carried out by Universities To identify skill gaps amongst academics and conduct relevant training programs and or employ staff to bridge or eliminate such skill gaps/deficits.”
About the Author
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
