By Chijioke Attah
The former minister of power, Prof Bath Nnaji has called for increased funding of the education sector as key for industrial and economic development of the country.
This according to him will make Nigeria join the global community in the industrial and economic revolution going into the next century.
Speaking as a guest lecturer of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka founders day celebration, Nnaji advocated for greater funding in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as a pathway for the industrial revolution in the country.
He lamented that Nigeria was amongst the least in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) investment in educational funding by the government and called for an improvement in this sector.
According to him, Nigeria will not achieve sustainable economic advancement without adequate investments in education and research that will advance technological innovation.
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Nnaji also called for increased partnership between universities and the organised private sector in the areas of research and inventions to build stronger collaboration between the academic and business sector.
The collaboration he noted will help bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and the skills required in the work place and therefore urged governments at all levels to increase investment in education.
The Chief Executive of Geometric power plant said the future of the country’s economy depends on technological competence, innovation and ability to develop home grown solutions to it’s problems .
Nnaji called for the scrutiny on the choices of leaders, pointing out that Nigeria needs leaders with requisite knowledge, character and ability to navigate through the present challenges facing the country.
In his address, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Simon Ortuanya said the annual founders day lecture was was instituted to promote the ideals of the founding fathers, encourage scholarship and critical thinking and also provide the opportunity to reflect on the role of the University in Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
He said the University remained committed to preserving it’s tradition of academic excellence while responding to current challenges through research, innovation and strategic partnership with the wider society.
Prof. Batho Okolo, former Vice Chancellor of the University and chairman of the occasion said the University was established on a vision that the institution would drive the the newly independent Nigeria through the global academic competitiveness and excellence.
He commended the Prof. Ortuanya led administration for the giant strides recorded in the infrastructural transformation and improvement in the physical and academic environment of the institution.
Highlights of the occasion included the presentation of gifts to the guest lecturer, Prof Bath Nnaji and emeritus Prof. Uche Azikiwe, wife of the founder of the University, Rt. Hon Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe as well as the cutting of the cutting of the 66th birthday cake.
