Don tasks varsities on research, innovation – Realnews Magazine

A professor of Computing and Information Systems Security, Olumide Longe, has called on universities to embrace research and innovation to improve the country’s ranking in the global technology space.

Longe, also a senior lecturer, Academic, City University College, Accra, Ghana, made the call during the 14th convocation lecture of Bells University of Technology, Ota, on Friday.

The don stressed the need for Nigerian Universities to focus on human-centre research and innovation so as to produce solutions to the challenges of development and problems of disruptive technology.

“Research and innovation must be taken seriously as a focal point in our institutions in order to be relevant and recognised globally.

“The universities should come up with innovation and research that would shake the world,” he said.

He stressed that curriculums must be upgraded, teaching styles and pedagogical approaches must be adjusted for universities to contribute to the discourses and emerging technologies, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Longe appealed to the federal government to increase funding of education as the level of investment in infrastructure across private and public universities was low by international standards.

The don said funds earmarked for basic research were not enough, which he said constituted a disadvantage to research centres.

Longe emphasised the need for the university system to respond to the many and diverse demands of the society.

He advised the graduands to be bold and courageous as they had been equipped with skills to be solution providers.

Longe implored them to reflect on the several human-centred challenges in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large, and provide solutions to such problems.

“Consider needs that are not being met and create new paths and innovations that others can travel on by solving such challenges,” he said.(NAN)

A.I