Ahmed advocates stronger synergy among universities, industries

Abdulfatah Ahmed, executive governor of Kwara State has advocated a stronger synergy between Nigerian universities and industries in order to foster rapid development in the country.

Ahmed,  an alumnus of the University of Ilorin, canvassed this position while speaking at the second Symposium of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Nigeria International Chemical Sciences Chapter, themed “Sustainable Chemistry: Industries and Gown Relationship Improvement for Research Excellence”.

According to Ahmed, who spoke through the State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Musa Yeketi, noted that there is a strong relationship between research findings, industries and the level of the development of a country.

The Governor listed the characteristics of good governance to include participation, effectiveness and efficiency, budgeting and responsiveness, accountability, transparency, consensus, equity and following the rule of law, he as well stressed the need for good governance in all sectors of the country in order to promote the well-being of the people.

The Governor said: “only good governance executed by scientifically minded managers and adopted by government policies is capable of turning things around especially in the time of economic recession”.

He emphasised that good governance is an essential factor for economic growth and sustainable development, adding that, within all sectors of a society the endemic corruption and violence that characterize failed states are the consequences of bad governance.

Ahmed further said, “As a Chemist, I believe the rigor of our training influences leadership quality. The application of science especially chemical sciences provide the necessary gathering for direct and indirect government investment programmers’ that can make an administration a smart, dynamic government. There is no doubt that only good governance executed by scientifically minded managers and adopt government policies capable of turning things around, especially in the time of economic recession.”

Earlier in his address, entitled “Personal Policy”, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin,  AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON), said that sustainability lies in bridging theory and practice or the cross-fertilisation of ideas between the industrialists in the field and the scholars in the universities.

Ambali, who spoke through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), N.Y.S. Ijaya, said, “When such healthy relationships are cultivated and sustained, not only will they improve academic excellence but they will also engender national development.”

According to him, “The needs of the society will be put into consideration in the training of chemists and the chemists will be able to tap from the new knowledge that the gown generates to benefit the town.”

Ambali noted that fostering good relationships, cultivating town and gown partnerships, deepening inter-group collaborations and exchanging ideas are good steps in the right direction, submitting that there is a world of difference between collecting the dots and connecting them.

In his submission, Kamaldeen Ibitoye Yusuf, the Chairman of KAM Industries Nigeria Limited, said that what is being done in his company is making research work practical, saying that the KAM Industries has been supporting lecturers.

He disclosed that the KAM Industries Nigeria Limited would be recruiting 10 best students of the institution every year, adding that Industrial Training students would also have an opportunity for tutelage and mentorship in the company.

In his welcome address, the Chairman, ACS, Nigeria International Sciences Chapter, Joshua Ayoola Obaleye, noted that the University of Ilorin was hosting the conference for the second time because of its reputation for excellence.

Obaleye said that the Chemists want Nigeria to benefit from the study of Chemistry, as he opined that Chemistry is critical to every aspect of life and national development.