Dr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, the immediate past Minister of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has said that dedication to research and innovation would foster economic growth in Nigeria.
He stated this in Lagos when he delivered a keynote address on Harnessing Sustainable Research Innovation in Nigerian Universities Towards National Growth and Development’ at the Lagos State University (LASU).
Fashola who was the keynote speaker at the two-day conference with the said, “LASU’s dedication to research and innovation as well as the fair’s subject this year have effectively characterised the institution’s growth.”
Credible News Nigeria reports that in his keynote presentation, Dr Fashola lauded Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, the vice chancellor, for building on the work of her predecessor and seeing value in it.
He went on to say that LASU’s dedication to research and innovation as well as the fair’s subject this year have effectively characterised the institution’s awareness of its role in fostering national growth.
He said: “LASU is taking a very deliberate step to optimize the benefits of research and has understood that it is not just here to produce students, but it is here as an engine of growth and prosperity for Nigeria”.
The former visitor to the University added that the next big step for LASU is to move the Research and Innovation Fair forward by establishing working relationships with research institutes.
At the same occasion, Sir David Sunmoni, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at Lagos State University, said that to enable universities become centres of innovation, the present tertiary institution’s curriculum has to be reviewed.
He made the announcement while making a speech during the Fifth (5th) LASU Research and Innovation Fair’s opening ceremony on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at the Aderemi Makanjuola Lecture Theatre on the Main Campus in Ojo, Lagos.
According to Sir. Sunmoni, the first step in transforming colleges into engines of innovation is to update the curriculum while making sure it reflects both present conditions and anticipated future demands.
Our educational system must change from being an instrument of instruction to a hub of invention and discovery, providing students with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience with problem-solving abilities.
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The Pro-Chancellor also mentioned the necessity of encouraging collaborations, such as Public Private Partnership (PPP) programmes that support knowledge transfer, technology transfer, and the commercialization of research outputs.
In the words of the speaker, “by bridging the gap between academia and industry, we can ensure that our research findings are not confined to the laboratory, but are translated into practical solutions that benefit society.”
Credits crediblenews.com.ng
