Uniben VC tasks govt to establish technology, innovation village

Prof. Faraday Orumnwense, Vice-Chancellor, University of Benin (UNIBEN), has tasked governments at all levels to invest more in science and technology in order to boost skill acquisition.

Orumnwense, who made the call recently in Abuja at the “Civil Society Dialogue with Stakeholders on Education’’, organised by the 1st Initiative for Leadership and Economic Watch in Nigeria, also called for establishment of technology and innovation villages.

Orumnwense , who was represented by Prof. Jacob Ehirobo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, UNIBEN, at the dialogue with the theme “Knowledge as the Engine of 21st Century Economic Growth: Reforming the System in Nigeria”, said the modern world was driven by knowledge-economy.

“Large corporations should set up specialized institutions where people are trained for specialized skills in production after graduation as it is done in other climes.

“There should be a strong synergy between the academia and the industries; industrial parks should be established in universities.

“The government should invest more in science and technology and should as a matter of deliberate policy set up technology and innovation villages.

“The government should increase funding to tertiary institutions and research institutes as well as establishment of centres of excellence to research into critical areas of national needs,’’ he added.

The Executive Director, 1st Initiative for Leadership and Economic Watch in Nigeria, Mr Agbonkponlor Splendour said the essence of dialogue was to improve the education sector, adding that Nigeria’s education sector lacked capacity to impact skills on graduates.

“Our graduates cannot compete favourably in the labour market because of lack of skills. The essence of this is to deliberate on how to empower Nigerian students to be at same level with their peers abroad,’’ Splendour said.

On his part, President, International Institute of Leadership and Governance, Dr Paddy Njoku called on Nigerian youths to be wary of those inciting them to violence, stressing that students should strive to break grounds instead of always blaming the government for the state of Nigeria’s education sector.