Governor Oluseyi Makinde of Oyo state has said investment in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education will solve the myriads of challenges plaguing the country.
Global countries that had invested adequately in STEM education, he noted, are now leading the world adding that Nigeria cannot not afford to lag behind.
Makinde disclosed this on Tuesday during the maiden convocation lecture of Thomas Adewumi University (TAU) Oko-Irese, Kwara State.
The convocation was themed Fostering a Globally Competitive and Self-Reliant Nation: The Impact of Innovative STEM Education
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, the governor charged graduates of TAU produced in the 21st century, to take the lead in providing technological driven solutions to the country’s conundrum.
“You are the torch bearers of Thomas Adewumi University. Think big, dream of solutions to challenges, act locally and address challenges in your community”, he said.
Kwara state governor, mallam AbdulRahaman AbdulRasaq who was represented by his deputy, Mr Kayode Alabi, corroborated the position of the convocation lecturer even as he praised the vision of the founder of the university.
According to him, the theme could not be more timely in an era where STEM shapes global progress.
He said it is important that “we prepare not just a generation of innovators equipped to address our nation’s challenges and compete on the world stage, but raise leaders who would lead with the right insights, empathy and firmness that leadership requires”.
TAU Founder and newly inaugurated chancellor of the university, Dr Johnson Adewumi on his part, said the vision of establishing the university was “not only to produce graduates but mould leaders who will be problem solvers regardless of their disciplines”.
He said TAU will continue to churn out graduates that will not be job seekers but drive national policy through innovative research and technological driven solutions .
Adewumi thanked Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq for naming the General Hospital, Omu- Aran as Thomas Adewumi University Teaching Hospital for the takeoff of the institution’s Medicine programme describing it as “historical”.
On his part, TAU Pro-chancellor and chairman governing council, prof Victor Olanrewaju, urged the governor as the chairman of Nigeria’s Governors Forum (NGF) to prevail on the federal government to reconsider its stand on Tertiary Education Trust Fund to accommodate private universities.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Francisca Oladipo, said the institution was the first to graduate students among all the universities granted license in 2021.
He said TAU is now first among the 20 universities licensed in 2021, 4th among the nine in Kwara State, 5th among the 149 private universities in Nigeria and 50th among 274 in Nigeria according to webometrics ranking.
She said the 26 pioneer graduates of the university were thoroughly bred to be job providers .
On his part, the High Commissioner of Namibia to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Humprey Geiseb, said Nigeria and Namibia have established a strong tie through educational exchange programmes.
He urged the two countries to explore the advantages for beneficial growth.
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