AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
Prof. Olajumoke Morenikeji, Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences, KolaDaisi University, Ibadan, has urged the Federal Government to show greater commitment to education by increase the budgetary allocation to the sector.
Morenikeji also urged the new administration to prioritize the welfare of lecturers and payment of the eight-month outstanding salaries of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
She spoke during the second edition of the science exhibition and quiz competition for secondary schools in Oyo State organised by the Faculty of Applied Sciences of the university where Mount Olivet Grammar school, Bodija, Ibadan emerged winners among the 21 participating public and private secondary schools.
The professor, stating that the event provided an avenue to nurture young students in the appropriate career path, stressed that “The current government must focus on education. A country without good education is as good as nothing. If we don’t have educated children, then the future is bleak.
“Education is the bedrock of the society. The government must make sure that they invest heavily in the education of the students because they are the future of the society.
“Also, the administration must look into the welfare of lecturers. This is very important. You know the government is still owing lecturers about eight months of salaries. The incoming government must do something about the plight of lecturers.
“It is absolutely ridiculous and this should be addressed as a matter of urgency by the government. There must be robust allocation to the educational sector.”
Professor Adeniyi Olatubosun (SAN), who doubles as the Vice-Chancellor of KDU-I, said, “No country can become industrialized without science and technology. That is why we need to start from the foundation.
“The science exhibition and quiz competition is focusing on youths in secondary schools because this will form the foundation for building up scientists and technologists that can drive the nation’s system.”
Olatunbosun recalled that Japan, between 1951 and 1953, put its emphasis on science promotion and after 20 years, the country became one of the industrialized nations in the world.
“I believe the Nigerian government is also aspiring towards that by ensuring that 60 per cent of students admitted into higher institutions are for sciences. That is the national policy on education now.
“We at KolaDaisi University are enforcing that by giving preference to those doing science subjects because that can actually bring the nation to advancement in knowledge and skills development.”
In a remark, Olawale Adetu, the registrar of the institution, said that the essence of the programme was to increase culture of reading, learning, competition, self-confidence and comportment among pupils.
Deeper Life High School, Ibadan and Lariken International College, Ologuneru, Ibadan clinched second and third positions respectively in the event.
Students that participated in the quiz competition and science exhibition showcased their competencies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
They said that the forum provided the opportunity to learn from one another and build relationship.
The competition, supported by New Horizons Systems, gave scholarships to six students. United Bank for Africa gave gifts to three secondary schools in the event.
Faith Promise and Razaq Sulaimon of Mount Olivet Grammar School, Ibadan won scholarship awards sponsored by KDU-I for coming tops in the quiz competition.
