We need to improve, invest more in technology in Nigeria —Stakeholders

Encomiums came the way of Professor Lawrence Kehinde and Professor Gabriel Adegbeyoga, two eminent lecturers from the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo Ile-Ife, (OAU) Osun State, who were recently celebrated for their immense contributions to the development of the department and the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector in Nigeria.

The two professors retired from the services of the university after more than thirty years of meritorious services to the institution and

the country in general. And they were celebrated by the department and the institution at an elaborate event, which took place at the Oduduwa Hall in the University last week.

Speakers after speakers spoke glowingly about the selfless contributions of the two eminent retired Professors to the department and the ICT world in general.

Ms Funke Opeke, the Managing Director and the Chief Executive Officer of MainOne Cable Company, who was the Guest Lecturer at the event, said Nigeria was still lagging behind in terms of technological innovations and that little progress has been made in the fields of electronic devices and instrumentations despite the contributions of eminent Nigerians like the retiring Professors to the development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

At the Public Lecture, which was organised to honour the two Professors, Opeke stated that despite the laudable projects and contributions of Nigerians and lecturers, who are able to play on the global scale, that Nigeria is still scratching the surface in terms of technological innovations.

She added that the gap in the department’s capabilities and world class has grown within the past thirty years.

According to Opeke, who spoke on the theme, The Role of Electronic Devices and Instrumentation in National Development, the leadership of the department in ilabs is a testament to the continued yearning to provide students with relevant laboratory or practical experience in a university environment where funding is no longer available to keep pace with technological developments.

Speaking further at the occasion, which had the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prosessor Eyitope Ogunbodede in attendance, among other prominent scholars, Opeke,an almnus of the department, advocated for partnerships with leading companies, foundations and other research-intensive institutions to devepo technology in the country.

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She said these partnerships could not just be about transferring knowledge from lab to practice but to also provide critical funding for talented faculty and students to pursue foundational research, enable students and faculty to exchange ideas with very best minds

inside and outside the academy and perhaps most importantly, help to prepare students to be citizens of a rapidly changing world.

The Vice Chancellor, Professsor Ogunbodede, in his address, said even though the country is advancing in technology but more is still needed to be done.

He praised the contributions of industry staholders like Opeke, whom he said is thriving in a sector that was thougth to be exclusive for men.

He thanked the two Professors for their contrpbutions to the department and the university, adding that such men and women are needed for the advancement of education in the country.

Also, Professor Adesola Aderounmu, the Dean of the Faculty of Technology and the President of the Nigeria Computer Society of Nigeria (NCS), enthused that it was a great honour to be able to make contribution at such ocassion  marking the exit of two distinguished Professors, while at the same time appreciate the privilege of assuming a new responsibility as the Dean of the Faculty.