Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Olukayode Akinyemi has called for a paradigm shift in research funding to confront Nigeria’s pressing issues.
He stated this in a seminal address during the 89th Inaugural Lecture at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)
Prof. Akinyemi’s impassioned plea for a dedicated allocation of 500 million Naira by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) aims to bolster multidisciplinary projects across the nation.
Delivering his lecture titled “Unraveling the Coupled Heat and Water Flow Phenomenon: My Non-Invasive Voyage into the Subsurface Domains,” Prof. Akinyemi underscored the urgency of fostering collaborative efforts spanning diverse fields including Economics, Mathematics, Physics, Animal Physiology, Mechatronics, and Plant Breeding.
Acknowledging TETFund’s role in supporting research endeavours, particularly through the Institutional-Based Research (IBR) and the National Research Fund (NRF), Prof. Akinyemi stressed the imperative of nurturing solution-oriented research groups.
He advocated the creation of “solution rooms” where individuals from disparate backgrounds, including students, can synergize ideas to devise practical solutions to societal challenges.
The distinguished academician, a stalwart in Solid Earth Physics and a Fellow of the Indian Society of Earth Scientists, emphasized the critical importance of comprehending the intricate interactions within the earth.
He advocated a fusion of expertise and resources to conduct non-invasive studies, necessitating substantial investment in monitoring systems and the adoption of multidisciplinary approaches.
Highlighting the earth’s pivotal role in scientific exploration, Prof. Akinyemi urged policymakers and researchers to prioritize its preservation.
He said “The earth may not need us to survive, but we surely do need earth to survive.”
Prof. Akinyemi addressed pressing environmental concerns, calling for the eradication of indiscriminate refuse disposal practices and advocating for the exploration of geothermal energy as a sustainable alternative.
He also proposed closer collaboration between the military and researchers to enhance subsurface forensic detections, underscoring the potential societal benefits of interdisciplinary cooperation.
In a bid to consolidate related disciplines, Prof. Akinyemi proposed the establishment of a College of Earth Sciences at FUNAAB, signaling the university’s commitment to advancing knowledge in this critical field.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the lecture, attended by luminaries from academia and industry, including former vice-chancellors and prominent scholars, served as a rallying cry for increased investment in multidisciplinary research initiatives to address Nigeria’s multifaceted challenges.
Earlier, in his Introductory Remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde lauded Prof. Akinyemi’s extensive experience in Solid Earth Physics, spotlighting his contributions to various research projects.
The Lecture had in attendance eminent personalities like the former Vice-Chancellor, FUNAAB, Prof. Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun; immediate past Vice-Chancellor, FUNAAB, Prof. Felix Kolawole Salako; former Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Femi Bamiro; former Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof. Bisi Balogun, and the former Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, SAN.
Others were the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, St. Augustine University, Ilara-Epe, Prof. Steve Afolami and wife, including the former Vice-Chancellor, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Prof. Adeniyi Olayanju; former Vice-Chancellor, Glorious Vision University (GVU), Prof. Babatunde Idowu; former Acting Vice-Chancellor, FUNAAB, Prof. Ololade Enikuomehin, and Bishop (Prof.) Adewale Solarin, as well as several others from the industry and academia within and outside of the University.
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