The Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Kola Daisi University, Ibadan, Prof. Olajumoke Morenikeji, has urged the Federal Government to show greater commitment to education by increasing the budgetary allocation to the sector.
Morenikeji also urged the new administration to prioritise the welfare of lecturers and payment of the eight-month outstanding salaries of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Morenikeji stated this at the second edition of the science exhibition and quiz competition for secondary schools in Oyo State organised by the Faculty of Applied Sciences of the university, where Mount Olivet Grammar school, Bodija, Ibadan emerged winners among the 21 participating public and private secondary schools.
The don said the present government must focus on education, adding that a country without good education is as good as nothing. She said: “If we don’t have educated children, then the future is bleak. Education is the bedrock of society. The government must make sure that they invest heavily in the education of the students because they are the future of the society.
“Also, the administration must look into the welfare of lecturers. This is very important. You know the government still owes lecturers about eight months of salaries. The new government must do something about the plight of lecturers.
“It is absolutely ridiculous and this should be addressed as a matter of urgency by the government. There must be robust allocation to the educational sector.”
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Adeniyi Olatubosun (SAN), said: “No country can become industrialised without science and technology. That is why we need to start from the foundation.
“The science exhibition and quiz competition is focusing on youths in secondary schools because this will form the foundation for building up scientists and technologists that can drive the nation’s system.”
Olatunbosun recalled that Japan, between 1951 and 1953, put its emphasis on science promotion and after 20 years, the country became one of the industrialised nations in the world.