StateWorried that Nigerians are going through tough times occasioned by insecurity, the vice chancellor, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Professor Abiodun H. Adebayo has called on federal government to adopt technological advancement to tackle hardship, hunger, unemployment and insecurity.
Concerned that amid abundant natural resources, food scarcity, kidnapping, banditry etc have continued to ravage the country, other stakeholders in unanimous agreement with Adebayo decried mass unemployment and poverty in the land. Just as they charged federal government to focus more in technological studies in schools in order to make students adopt and explore science for the benefits of development.
To them, proper use of technological innovation would assist to fish out bandits and kidnappers from any locations.
Noting that more jobs would be created with use of technology they also explained that many graduates will easily be employed as science experts.
Moreover, Adebayo while declaring the 2024 Science Olympiad opened, stressed that science education will lead to revolutionise the current food production and tackle insecurity across the country.
On his own part, the national director of Science Olympiad Nigeria, Mr Adewunmi Odunaike, “We cannot develop without science, so it is essential to catch these students when they are young.”
According to Odunaike, the Olympiad involves getting to know the theoretical and practical knowledge of the students in solving everyday problems.
Likewise, the secretary, Executive Committee on Innovation and Strategy, Chemical Society of Nigeria, Okeh Ochulo, explained that as nations are built by science, Nigeria should focus more on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Moreover, Ochulo notes that education and the application of technology empower every student to use their creativity. Seeing as it helps to develop their problem-solving skills, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) should be encouraged in schools.
In the same vein, a staff in the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) School, Lagos, Oluwafemi Adenuga, explained that 26 Schools registered for the National Tournament from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Abia, Osun, Anambra, Kaduna and Zamfara states but others, especially those from northern part of the country due to insecurity along their routes could not join in the competition.
Adenuga appealed to parents to encourage more young people to embrace STEM because it’s a major determinant of national prosperity and will fortify the capability of the nation’s workforce, and help towards achieving the economic objective of the SDG goals.
