The advice was given by the Corporate Affairs Adviser of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Kufre Ekanem, while delivering the 1st distinguished lecture series of the Federal University of Technology, FUTA, Akure, recently.
He spoke on “Global perspectives on collaborations & partnerships between universities and industry.”
According to him, strong collaborative activities between the academia and industrial sector would in no small measure enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness, productivity, growth and reputation in the comity of nations.
The guest lecturer, in a statement made available to journalists, noted that such a practice that encourages and supports knowledge-exchange linkages between the academia and industries was part of the routes the developed countries of the world take to attain greatness economically.
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He said there were ample of partnership opportunities that universities could also utilise with the international organisations that would lead to national prosperity for the country.
While making reference to Triple Helix model, Ekanem explained the roles of government in making the university-industry collaboration thrive, saying all was to give room for an integrated knowledge-based economy for Nigeria.
He, however, pointed out that his type of collaboration was not one-sided philanthropy or one-off short-term infrastructural projects activities but the ones that strongly align with the needs and purpose of both the academia and the industry.
In his remark earlier, the Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Prof. Joseph Fuwape, stated that the essence of the distinguished lecture series was to build up the exchange of ideas as part of the current global positioning of the institution.
He said FUTA would continue to pursue its agenda of producing graduates that are self-reliant and globally relevant.
On his part, the chairman on the occasion and Executive Director, NetConstruct Nigeria, Mr Abiola Popoola, encouraged the university and participants to make the best use of the knowledge gained during the lecture for themselves, institution and the country at large.
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