Inaugurate prizes for technological innovation by students —-Prof. Falola.
A Nigerian U.S.-based Professor of Humanities, Toyin Falola, says transformative impact will be recorded in our society if measures and scholarships are in place to encourage innovation especially in the area of technology.
Falola spoke at a public lecture organised by the Federal College of Education (FCE) (Technical), Akoka, Lagos, with theme as: “Technology, Technical Education, Culture and Society” on Wednesday.
He charged the FCE (Technical ), Akoka, to inaugurate prizes for best innovation students to inspire their skills in technology.
According to him, there is need for continuous innovation in technology which must be encouraged in students adding that the future of the nation rests on the youth.
Falola also spoke on critical issue and concerns, history, culture and technology in contemporary world and moving forward.
” The technical education that we have is the real thing we need to make transformative impact in our society and so, we must apply measures to encourage this innovation.
” Students building their academic career in technical education have great opportunity, ideas and great potential. So, I am recommending that the college introduces prizes for best innovation students.
“There is a lot of achievement that they can record; innovations, creating products and culture being a way of elevating our country and Africa continents
” The college should set up unit to review the student’s idea innovations, or work to recognise their vision and if certified be promoted by marketing such,” he said.
The distinguished professor of humanities emphasised the need to examine technical education in ancient Nigeria culture and society and solicited for adoption of culture and cultural approach for easy assimilation.
According to him, all technology are indigenous knowledge, adding that western education has marginalised African indigenous knowledge system by regarding it as backwards.
” Technical education should be seen to be playing significant role and contributions to the evolving technology in Nigeria’s music, fashion and movie industries, it is not contradiction of culture.
” It’s rather unfortunate that many young boys and girls are now into ritual killing to make quick money, why not learn how to do bitcoin instead of looking for human parts to sell?.
” African governments must prioritise development; our youths must lead us.
“We have to consciously plan, create an enabling environment, policies, incentives, strategies and pathway for development, that is how we can make meaningful and societal progress,” he said.
The Chairman of the FCE (Technical) Akoka Governing Council, Mr Adamu Muazu, said that the council had lived up to expectations in staff welfare as all outstanding arrears and promotion benefits had been cleared up to date.
“This institution, as the first College of Education in Nigeria, needs to take the lead position being the reason we are doing everything possible to make the academic environment lively and staffers comfortable.
“ This programme is part of the things we have been agitating for and it is a very good development that we are having a renowned personality to deliver this laudable lecturer, ” he said.
Dr Wahab Azeez, Provost of FCT (Technical) in his remark said that the programme was to bring in knowledgeable and key personalities to support the college in academic and technical areas of focus.
Azeez who noted that the college, which was set up decades ago, was established to provide academic and technical education to students and other categories of trainees, described the institution as a specialised College of Education Technical.
“Today marks another great event in the history of this College established in 1967; the title of this lecture captures a lot of area that our erudite and professor is covering.
“The Governing Council and Management of the College have attracted one of the best brains in the world which justifies the importance of this lecture and we have both physical and virtual audience.
” Products from this college are expected to work, train other levels of students, sustain and add value in terms of technological or technical requirements towards economic development of our country,” he said.
The event had Mr Yemisi Shyllon, Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Museum of Arts of Pan-African University, Lekki, Lagos, as Chairman of the event.
The event also had cultural display and music performance by K-Peace, Winner of Nigeria Idol Season 5.