Olubolade Advocates Science and Technology for Economic Development, Lauds ISCEST
Navy Capt. Olubolade Advocates Science and Technology for Economic Development, Lauds ISCEST, report by Etete Enideneze
Ex-Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Omoniyi Caleb Olubolade (rtd.), wants government to give more policy attention to science, engineering and technology education, as well as effective implementation of programmes in order to boost economic development in Nigeria.
He advocated this on Monday, December 2, while making special remarks at the opening session of a 3-day 11th annual conference and 10th year anniversary of International Society of Comparative Education, Science and Technology (ISCEST), at Azaiki Institute of Science and Technology, Amarata-Epie in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Capt. Olubolade (rtd.), made the advocacy against the background of Nigeria’s overdependence on trading of raw materials, especially crude oil and gas, for foreign goods, without large scale domestic manufacturing, a situation that has made it a consumer economy.
To change the dominant trend, Olubolade stated that science, engineering and technology could drive the nation’s economy to progress, especially for the benefit of the teeming unemployed youths.
He further stated that given priority attention to these fields would also enhance the military’s capacity to defend the nation, given that state-of-the-art equipment could be locally manufactured and easily made available.
According to him, Nigeria could no longer run away from exploring science and technology, urging that the time has come for government to effectively adopt them as catalysts for development.
Olubolade who is also a one-time Military Administrator of Bayelsa State, lauded the founding president of the ISCEST, Professor Steve Azaiki for commitment to educational and human capital development for the betterment of Bayelsa State, Nigeria and Africa, and urged him to sustain the tempo.
He also commended the ISCEST for its contributions to knowledge development and professional practice, and assured of his modest support to enable the organization realize its voluntary missions for society, imploring that donor agencies could equally do same.
In an opening remark, chairman of the opening session, Amb. (Dr.) Godknows Boladei Igali, represented by Venerable Theophilus Baralayon, also applauded Professor Azaiki and the ISCEST for unrelenting efforts towards educational advancement of people within and outside Bayelsa and Nigeria.
Dr. Igali who was decorated as a Fellow of the ISCEST, decried lack of leadership will in adopting innovative research outcomes, and called on government to key into the ideas that would emmanate from the conference.
Earlier in her welcome address, president of the ISCEST, Professor (Mrs.) Nedie Patience Akani, stated that the theme of the conference and anniversary, “Nationalising International Comparative Education Spaces: Propositions, Prospects and Praxes”, was meant to garner ideas through well-reaserched papers and discussions on latest global trends in education, science and technology in order to influence policies and best practices in Nigeria.
Professor (Mrs.) Akani enumerated achievements of the International Comparative Education, Science and Technology (ISCEST) in ten years to include 11 conferences with relevant themes, held at different cities in Nigeria, webinars on topical issues, training on grant proposal writing, methods in comparative science and technology education, research and article writing techniques, and ISCEST’s affiliation with World Council of Comparative Education Societies (WCCES).
Others were collaboration with other academic bodies, participation in the Pan-Ijaw Pre-summit Economic Conference in Yenagoa, sustenance of journal and newsletter publications, conferement of fellowship on 25 deserving persons, besides 12 newly awarded at this year’s conference, increased membership, plans to establish research grant programme, and mentorship scheme for early-career reseachers.
She thanked the founding president, Professor Azaiki for laying the foundation for ISCEST and for his continuous efforts towards success of the organization, adding that the support of other members, notably, Professor (Mrs.) Raechel Dickson who sponsored 50 students and 10 lecturers to this year’s conference, were laudable gestures.
In his speech, the founding president of the ISCEST, Processor Steve Azaiki, said the organization which was established in 2014, was among few in Africa, expressing delight that Nigeria’s chapter ranks high among its counterparts across the world. He attributed the successes within ten years to the input of every member and collaborators, noting that the Professor (Mrs.) Akani leadership has done well.
Others who gave goodwill speeches and key note addresses and papers include, Professor (Mrs.) Raechel Dickson; Dr. Ebinimi P. Berezi, Provost IJBCOE; Prof. Dimie Ogoina, VC, BMU, through the Registrar, Dr. (Mrs.) Felicia Abutu; Dr. Gertrude Shotte of Middlesex University UK, Professor David A. Turner of Beijing Normal University and University of South Wales; Dr. Elizabeth Agbor Eta from University of Heisinki, Finland; Dr. Samuel Ndueso John, from NDA Kaduna, among others.
The 3-day hybrid conference featured 18 academic papers in Day 2, presented by academics and practitioners in various fields in education, and same number for science and technology for Day 3, with election of new executives/closing ceremony on November 3.
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