The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Dayo Hephzibah Oladebeye has urged the federal government to allocate more resources for improved engineering innovations in order to boost the economy of the country.
He made the call while delivering the 23rd edition of the Prof. E.K. Obiakor inaugural lecture series titled ‘Engineering innovations towards sustainable national development in the pre and pro COVID-19 pandemic era’ in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.
He said, “Governments of developing economies like Nigeria should look beyond agriculture in their diversification programme and focus more on engineering innovations through increased educational research and development”.
He further advocated for synergy between the town and the gown in order to produce scientifically and technologically minded citizens needed for economic development, while calling for exchange of information and documentation between industries and educational Institutions.
The Poly Rector, however, stated that necessary recognitions should be accorded to indigenous Engineers and other personnel in the profession to act as consultants and contractors for high-level projects instead of engaging foreign contractors who have little knowledge of the working environment.
He, however, stated that diversification of the economy should be geared towards engineering innovations, which could only be derived through investment in mathematics, science and technology.
“Dr. Oladebeye, who is a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, (FNSE) further called for the application of knowledge in all Engineering disciplines for the development of the country’s social economic sectors, such as transportation, telecommunications, water supply, agriculture, energy, industry, environment, health and biotechnology.
The Prof. E.K. Obiakor lecture series of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti is a replication of the inaugural lectures’ series of universities, named after the pioneer Rector of the institution, Professor Edward Kanu Obiakor who was the Rector of the institution from January 1977 to December 1985.
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