The Chief Executive of the National Mathematical Centre (NMC) , Abuja, Professor Promise Mebine; the University of Ibadan [UI] Vice Chancellor [VC], Prof. Kayode Adebowale; a Professor of Computational Science at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Italy, Clement Onime; Prof. Emmanuel Bakare of the International Centre for Applied Mathematical Modelling and Data Analytics, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State and others , on Monday, called on Africa’s leaders to use data and mathematical modelling to address the myriads of challenges besetting the continent.
They made the call during the opening ceremony of a five-day International Conference and Advanced Workshop on Modelling and Simulation of Complex Systems organised by the Postgraduate College, University of Ibadan [UI], Oyo State. The conference, which has the theme: ‘’Harnessing Mathematical Modelling and Simulation for African Development’’, was held at the Digital Park of the premier university. Scholars and researchers came from Canada, Ethiopia, South Africa, Turkey and other places to attend the conference. The conference is to talk about Africa’s problems, how mathematics will solve Africa’s problems, and will proffer solutions to the problems. The scholars maintained that mathematics would help solve the problems facing the continent.
Mebine said: ‘’Mathematics is everywhere and everything. In other climes they use mathematics to solve problems. We are about to start. We have to start to do something fast now’’.
Onime , who is also of the Department of Computer Science, University of Ibadan, said the world today is increasingly complex. He added that mathematics and data would help address job-related and city transportation challenges.
On his part, Prof Adebowale said: ‘’It is a privilege to welcome the whole world to this university for this conference on mathematical modelling on the ways to solve Nigeria and Africa’s problems. There is no doubt that Africa faces a myriad of problems – inequality in our health system, climate change and so on. What we knew before is traditional modelling. Now that mathematical modelling and simulation is coming into it, perhaps, mathematics can be a compass in addressing some of these challenges’’. In his remarks, the Provost of PG College ,UI, Prof. Ayo Ogunjuyigbe said: ‘’The theme speaks for itself. It gives people in the field a job. It was an opportunity to impart knowledge on the students’’.
Also speaking, Prof. Bakare said: ‘’We have seen the need to use mathematics to solve problems. Mathematics is all-pervading and we cannot do anything meaningful for society without the use of data. Data is key and mathematics gives data and better understanding of issues. It gives you tools relevant to solving real-life problems’’.
Members of the Central Organising Committee of the programme, Prof. Segun Okoya, Dr Omololu Akin-Ojo and others said it was imperative for the leaders of the continent to embrace mathematics and the benefits of data.
