University don tasks FG, states govt on development of coastal communities

Government at all levels have been called upon to embark on developmental agenda for the growth coastal communities across the country, while multi nationals and indigenous companies have been advised to fulfill their social responsibility to the people of the areas,  by embarking on projects that would have meaningful impact and add values to their lives.

This call was made by a University Don from the University of Texas, in United State of America, Prof. Toyin Falola, during a three day conference held at the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, with the theme: ‘’ Community, Trade and Religion in Coastal Yoruba land’’.

According to the Professor of Humanities, who frowned over the underdevelopment of the coastal communities despite the abundant of natural resources deposited in the areas, but said the  communities in these areas have been neglected and abandoned.

Falola however posited that the only way out of the present predicament of the coastal communities is for the  three tiers of government to place more attention on the provision of education, job creation and basic amenities, which include good road, potable water and health facilities for the people of the communities.

Falola commended the initiative of the organizers, describing the hosting of the conference as timely against the background of increased agitation and outcry of marginalization coming from people living in coastal communities in various part of the country.

While commending the Management of Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) Ondo for blazing the trail in organizing the conference, Prof. Falola said the move would go a long way in advancing the frontier of knowledge and put an end to what he observed as neglect of Yoruba coastal community by Archaeologists as well as putting the history of Yoruba race in the right perspective.

The University don urged other tertiary institutions to emulate the step taken by ACE, adding that the move would help in promoting academic development, innovation and production of scholars that would make meaningful contributions to advancement of knowledge in the country.

In a communique issued at the end of the conference, participants stressed the need for government to design programmes and policies that would suit the people of the area, considering the aquatic nature of the people of the area.

The participants also called on government and other stakeholders to give adequate attention to environmental protection and degradation through massive investment in coastline development, enactment of legislation that would boost capacity of local fishermen, development of tourism, introduction of conflict resolution strategy, embarking  on accurate mapping of towns and settlements located in coastal communities as well as development of economic blueprint that would help in accelerating rapid transformation of the region

In his remarks, the Provost of ACE, Prof. Olukoya Ogen, explained that the conference was organized as part of effort of the the present administration in the school  to promote intellectual development and enhance human capacity in the institution.

He acknowledged support received from eminent personalities such as Prof. Falola, Dr. Insa Nolte from the University of Birmingham and other scholars from various tertiary institutions,  who took part  in the conference and assured that his administration would continue to organize programmes that would enrich academic development,  and add values to lives of teaching and non-teaching staff and students of the college.

The three-day programme organized  by the College in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, European Research Council ( URC) and Osun State Univerity, took place at the New Centre for Educational Technology ( CET) auditorium of the institution.