ONE of the ways through which we can achieve societal transformation is for every research conducted in the university system to be integrated into the society for the benefit of the people.
This was, therefore, the aim of the Institute of African Studies (IAS), University of Ibadan, when the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Professor Olanike K. Adeyemo, delivered the institute’s September bi-monthly seminar series entitled: Integrating the 21st Century University into a Knowledge Society Through Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships.
In his welcome remarks, the Director of IAS, Dr Ishmaeel Jimoh, said the focus of the Institute was to organise discourses that would focus on transforming the society.
“In May, the Institute invited Professor Ibigbolade Aderibigbe of the Department of Religion and the African Studies Institute, University of Georgia, United States of America, where he delivered a lecture entitled, Traditional Songs as Language of Information and Morality in Yoruba Religious Beliefs and Culture: Context and Significance.”
Dr Jimoh said the Institute also invited Reverend Father Anselm Adodo to deliver its seminar series last July, where he lectured on how African problems could be solved with African solutions.
“Through that lecture, entitled, Transformations Studies in Africa: Researching Africa with African Eyes, we were able to understand that the challenges facing the African continent could only be addressed using African solutions if we are to experience real transformation on the continent,” Dr Jimoh said.
In his opening remarks, the chairman on the occasion, Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo, admitted that the university system needed to extend its scope of partnership with the society so that all the researches being worked upon could be put to use for the benefit of the people.
Emeritus Professor Banjo commended the IAS for the seminar series, especially as it was focusing on transforming the society through the ideas generated in the university system.
“The university must, therefore, continue to work towards impacting the society positively, as this is the secret of the developed countries,” Emeritus Professor Banjo said.
The Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the IAS, Dr Senayon Olaoluwa, went down memory lane when the seminars thrived in the 1960s, 1970s and part of the 1980s, drawing presentation and participation from the University of Ibadan and other universities across the country.
Dr Olaoluwa revealed that the seminar series also occasionally hosted eminent scholars from around Africa and the rest of the world, but it began to slow down in the late 1980s, featuring in staggered forms and without the initial bite, through which the Institute lived up to its mandate as a centre for the production of pan-African knowledge.
“However, under the directorship of Professor Ohioma Pogoson, a scientific committee was constituted to address the funding challenges, and the first edition of the now bi-monthly seminar held on May 9,” Dr Olaoluwa said.
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In her lecture, Professor Adeyemo explained the traditional role of a university, which include teaching, research, community service, among others.
“However, integration redefines the role of the research university as a source of competence and a problem-solving mechanism for society.
“There also has to be a paradigm shift from the traditional approach to teaching, research and community service, to coming up with a clear priority on engaging with town for mutual benefit.”
The deputy vice chancellor also discussed some of her roles in the office established by the institution’s Senate in February 2017, which include, facilitating and maintaining local and international linkage and exchange programmes, evolving innovative need-driven university-wide academic and research projects, aggressive fund generation by attracting aids, grants, endowments, among others, through the provision of the relevant services and products to the general public, among others.
“These roles require innovation, as well as strategic partnership with the public for the mutual benefit of the university and the society,” Professor Adeyemo said.