ABIODUN ADVOCATES INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGY TO ADDRESS NATION’S CHALLENGES

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has advocated for the development of indigenous technology to solve the numerous challenges facing Nigeria and other developing nations, instead of relying on the West.

Governor Abiodun, who made the call at the third convocation ceremony of the Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa, said that technology from advanced countries required much money with little results on the local economy.

“In an attempt towards job creation, poverty alleviation and food security; technology that Ied to prosperity in the developed nations may not be appropriate in the developing nations, as these advanced technologies require so much from our people in terms of finance and technical know-how with little results. We must develop our own technology.

“In achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, science and technology must be designed and made suitable to the resources of the particular group of people. It must be appropriate technology which relies on local skills and resources that fit into the peculiarity of the people,” he said.

He said the establishment of the Institute was a deliberate strategy to develop the technical capacity of the State, adding that the school fits into the general plan of providing manpower for the development of the State.

Prince Abiodun noted that government would continue to pay adequate attention to all public, academic institutions as a key component of his administration’s objective in education.

He lauded the Institute for continuing to grow in leaps and bounds, adding that the construction of the 2,000-capacity twin lecture hall, would provide a conducive teaching and learning environment and make the school more viable.

The Goverrnor offered automatic employment to the overall best graduating student, in the State Civil Service, Mrs. Adedokun Yetunde and offered cash rewards to 58 students with CGPA of 3.00 and above.

He charged the graduating students to put what they had learnt in the school to good use by proffering solutions to the many challenges facing humanity.

In her address, the Rector of the Institution, Dr. (Mrs.) Olufunke Akinkurolere, noted that the last five years of her leadership had imparted quality education on many of its students and had produced skilled workers, policy makers, public servants and leaders who are making a headway in their respective fields.

She said a Computer Science graduate of the School, emerged the winner of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Grant 2019, when his brilliant concept was chosen out of 200,000 entries all over the country, adding that the Institute would continue to be an incubation centre where innovative stars are born, nurtured and released to make a global impact.

Dr. Akinkurolere noted that the convocation, would not only avail the school an opportunity to measure its productivity and growth, but a chance to appraise achievements and challenge both staff and students to raise the bar in academic and entrepreneurial pursuits.

Ms. Adedotun Yetunde of the Department of Accountancy, with a 3.85 CGPA of the total 4.0, emerged the overall best graduating student with a cash prize of N100, 000.

Highlight of the occasion was the award of certificates for the National and Higher National Diplomas to the 2,000 graduating students of the Institute.