The former Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has called for synergy involving government, research and industrial needs to fast track national development.
Nebo made the call in Nsukka on Wednesday while delivering the 15th Eni Njoku Memorial Lecture, titled: “Science and Technology as Allies with Governance in Wealth Creation and Poverty Reduction”.
The event was held at Princess Alexandria Auditorium, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu state.
Nebo, the 12th Vice Chancellor of the UNN and the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, warned that without this synergy Nigeria would continue to witness low development, resulting in over-bloated labour market.
“There is an urgent need for synergy between government policies research and industry needs so as to boost national development.
“Currently, this connection is lacking in the education sector and government in the country.
“Without the connection, the nation will continue to witness poor development and her labour market will forever remain over-bloated,” he said.
He commended Njoku who, he said, used his wealth of knowledge to proffer solutions to some important national problems through his research works.
“We are remembering and celebrating Njoku because he used his intellectual prowess and research to proffer solutions to many problems as well as contribute to national development.
“I commend UNN’s Department of Biological science and family of Njoku for sustaining the memorial lecture in honor of the scientist and intellectual icon,” he said.
The former minister also applauded Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo for the infrastructural development going on in the state, especially for completing the Owerri-Okigwe Road project.
In a remark, Prof Charles Igwe, the UNN Vice-Chancellor, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Pat Okpoko, thanked the Faculty for organizing the lecture.
Igwe expressed delight in the quality of a lecturer like Nebo chosen to deliver this year’s lecture.
“I commend the faculty in its wisdom for choosing former minister of power, former VC of UNN and pioneer VC, FUOYE and a powerful man of God to deliver the lecture.
“I promised, I will adopt the salient points raised by Nebo in this lecture to further reposition UNN.
Speaking, Mr Uzoma Nwokorie, one of the special guests at the event and the Managing Director of UZ Investment, promised to assist the faculty to upgrade its central laboratory.
Earlier, Prof. Emeka Nweze, Dean of the Faculty, noted that the Njoku bi-annual lecture provides opportunity for the faculty to reflect on the unique impactful and inspiring life of an outstanding compatriot.
The Dean said that the lecture was held last in 2018 as a result of COVID-19 global pandemic and the last Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) nationwide strike that lasted for eight months.
“I commend the Board Faculty of Biological Sciences for approving the event to hold in my first year of deanship rather than the usual way of having it in the Dean’s second year,” he said.
Nweze solicited support to upgrade the faculty’s Eni Njoku Library and the Central Laboratory, which, he said, were both vital for effective research and learning in the faculty and the university at large.
“The lecture series is a bi-annual event to celebrate the life and times of a renowned Nigerian scholar, teacher, administrator and scientist.
“Late Njoku was the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos and the first indigenous Vice Chancellor of UNN,” he said.
The Eni Njoku lecture series was established in 1981 by the faculty in conjunction with the family of Njoku as a way to immortalize the legend,” the dean said.
Dignitaries who attended the lecture include: Prof Malachy Okwueze, Deputy Chief of staff, who represented Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Chief Declan Emelumba, Commissioner, Information and Strategy, who represented Gov. Uzodimma.
