Adewole, VC task varsities on innovation, collaboration to overcome challenges

Former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Folorusho Adewole, and Vice Chancellor, Igbinedion University Okada (IUO), Prof Lawrence Ezemonye on Wednesday said challenges of the world can be overcome with innovation and collaboration in research.

Ezemonye added Igbinedion University is committed to embarking on major research breakthroughs, particularly through innovation and collaboration.

Speaking during the University’s Innovation Day with the theme “The Place of Innovation in Pioneering Excellence”, Ezemonye said the “challenges facing the world today are enormous, but so too is our potential to overcome them through innovation and collaboration.”

He noted that a major research breakthrough of the University is an IUO Petrol Minibus designed and developed by the College of Engineering for use as a project vehicle.

“The second phase of the project which is ongoing will entail the design and development of an electric minibus by the College scheduled for completion before the end of next year.

“We also have on exhibition the products of IUO oil palm processing mills which will formally be commissioned tomorrow. A collaborative project between the Central Bank of Nigeria and Igbinedion University Okada, the processing mill has an installed capacity to process oil at the rate of 2Tons/hour with provision for future expansion,” Ezemonye said.

Delivering the Igbinedion University Okada (IUO) Innovation Day lecture with topic, “The Place of Innovation in Pioneering Excellence, Former Minister of Health and former Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan Prof. Adewole said innovation is crucial in today’s world.

While emphasizing on the need for collaboration in research, Adewole said that without research there cannot be innovation.

“Nigeria’s Current Innovation landscape is curently experiencing significant growth, particulany in the ICT/telecoms sector, which contributed 5.97% to Nigeria’s real GDP as of the third quarter of 2023,” Adewole said.

“The country is witnessing a surge in tech skills development, with Initiatives like the Three Milion Technical Talent (3MTT) program aiming to train three miion Nigerians in various IT skills over the next four years.

“The development of the National AI Strategy is expected to create 600 AI-focused start ups, propelling Nigeria into a leading hub for technology and innovation in Africa.”