Nigerian polytechnics urged to rise up to tech needs

Polytechnics in Nigeria have been urged to urgently rise up to her technological needs. This was the summation of experts at the just concluded International Conference and Exhibition on Technological Innovation and Global Competitiveness held in Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State recently. The participants unanimously agreed that Nigeria’s polytechnics possess the technical know-how to fast-track […]

Polytechnics in Nigeria have been urged to urgently rise up to her technological needs.

This was the summation of experts at the just concluded International Conference and Exhibition on Technological Innovation and Global Competitiveness held in Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State recently.

The participants unanimously agreed that Nigeria’s polytechnics possess the technical know-how to fast-track the country’s technological advancement, a statement said.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, while declaring the conference open, commended the polytechnic for maintaining its high rating in offering technology-based education as well as having several unique patents in strategic sectors of the economic.

The minister, represented by a director in the ministry, I.O. Folorunso, insisted that until a polytechnic converted its inventions and patents for commercial use, its impact would be limited. He stressed that the priority of the Federal Government is to reposition polytechnics in the area of science and technology in the hope that through efforts in town and gown collaboration, the polytechnics would soon find viable alternative to the high dependency on foreign technology in the country.

Professor Mbarika of the Information and Communication Technology University, Louisiana, USA, while delivering the lead paper, challenged Africans to shift attention to the good things the continent could boast of.

He said: “We must cease to focus on Africa as the content of corruption, debt, dictatorship, terrible diseases, poverty and illiteracy. Yes, we do have these things here and there in Africa.”

He said having lived in the United States for decades, they realise it also has the problems in large dimensions but they focus on their positives.

“So let us focus on things like our efficacious traditional medicine, natural resources, huge population (markets), agricultural potentials and skilled man power,” Mbarika stressed.

The don explained that through his interactions with the academia in Nigeria, the polytechnics and technology-based universities needed to re-focus and harness the huge potentials the country has.

He listed sports, entertainment, agriculture and healthcare as areas polytechnics must deploy technological skills so that Nigeria can provide the necessary leadership to turn around the entire African continent positively within the next few years.

The host, Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Dr. Olusegun Aluko, said the management of the institution conceived the conference as a town and gown forum to promote knowledge and technological innovation to make Nigeria compete favourably at the global level.