The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Tuesday, in Lagos, appealed to Nigerians and especially the travellers plying the Lagos- Ibadan Expressway and other federal highways in the south-west currently under repairs to be patient and endure the pains and anguish they may be going through due to the exercise.
He said such pains and discomfort could only be temporary and would cease once the projects are completed and people begin to enjoy the facilities.
Fashola, who is a former governor of Lagos State, made the appeal at a research fair organised by the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo with no fewer than 242 researchers from in and outside the university made presentations.
The minister, who equally fumed at traders who converted the highways undergoing repairs to the market place, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to complete all the ongoing repairs works not only on the Lagos –Ibadan Expressway, but also on Lagos-Abeokuta, Lagos -Badagry, Lagos-Shagamu and Apapa-Oworonsoki expressways on record times.
“And all these construction works which we all clamouring for because of the bad state of these roads will naturally bring some discomfort and inconveniences to people, but bear with us for now as in a matter of time, we will all reap the benefits,” he said.
Speaking on “Driving development through research and innovations,” which is the theme of the fair, Fashola said there would not be meaningful development in any sector of the economy or a country as a whole that fails to give a deserved attention to problems-solved research activities.
He said it is through research and innovations that a country can progress meaningfully and the welfare and standards of living of people also get improved.
“But it is disheartening that we in Nigeria don’t carry out research activities on our challenges as well as achievements to see how we can leverage on them to make our society more better, rather like complaining,” he said.
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While faulting most of the data on social and economic issues in the country such as 13.5 million out of school school children, 200 million population, 17 million housing deficit among others, he urged LASU and other universities in the country to dwell more on knowledge-based research and practicals towards national growth and development rather than being theoretical.
He said they could source for research funds through the endowment of professorial chairs, private and public organizations and individuals support the endowments as well as legislation that will help the funding of research, among others.
Also speaking, the governor of Lagos State and visitor to LASU, Mr Babatunde Fashola, who was represented by his special adviser on education, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said the state government would continue to support LASU not only on research activities but also in making the university attain an appreciable height in knowledge delivery.
In his own address, the vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun, said the essence of organising the fair and would make it an annual event is to contribute more meaningfully to the growth and development of Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.
He disclosed that the university is targeting N1 billion research endowment funds and promised transparency and accountability in the discharge of such funds.
The vice-chancellor, however, solicited the support of the state government, corporate bodies, philanthropists, alumni and other lovers of education and development to key into the vision for a better Lagos and Nigeria by extension.
and then