The Chairman, Governing Council of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Prof. Lanre Nassar, has called for stronger collaboration between academic institutions and industries to promote research-driven solutions to Nigeria’s industrial and environmental challenges.
Nassar made the call during the institution’s 14th Inaugural Lecture in Ibadan, stressing the need for academic research and curricula to respond more directly to the needs of society and the nation.
The former Rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and former Vice-Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, said universities and other higher institutions should ensure that research findings were translated into practical solutions capable of addressing real-life challenges.
He described inaugural lectures as important academic traditions through which scholars showcase their research journeys, innovations and contributions to knowledge, while creating opportunities for stronger engagement between academia, industry and society.
Nassar urged industries and other stakeholders to participate actively in inaugural lectures and engage academics whose research could provide solutions to organisational and national problems.
According to him, closer interaction between researchers and industry would help bridge the gap between knowledge generation and its practical application.
Also speaking, the Rector of the institution, Dr. Taiwo Lasisi, said the value of academic research should ultimately be measured by its capacity to generate innovations that improve society.
Lasisi cited technological advancements such as artificial intelligence and renewable energy as examples of how research could provide solutions to contemporary challenges.
“An inaugural lecture is not just a presentation; it is an opportunity for a scholar to demonstrate how far he has gone in his academic, research and innovation journey and project the outcome to society at large, so that people can learn from it and, more importantly, apply the knowledge to real-life challenges,” he said.
He urged students and younger academics to remain committed to research and pursue studies capable of making meaningful contributions to society.
The call came against the backdrop of the 14th Inaugural Lecture delivered by the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Dr. David Adewuyi Oke.
Oke, in his lecture titled, “Materials and Environment: Safer Communities from Environmental Engineering Perspective,” stressed the need for greater public awareness and effective enforcement of environmental regulations.
He identified noise pollution, poor water quality, oil leakage and indiscriminate tree felling among environmental challenges requiring urgent attention.
The don said stronger collaboration among academia, industry, government and communities was necessary to translate research findings into innovations capable of promoting industrial development, protecting the environment and improving the quality of life of Nigerians.
He also called for more effective monitoring and enforcement of existing environmental laws, including Environmental Impact Assessment requirements.
“We have environmental laws and regulations, including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements, but the question is: how effectively are these laws being monitored and enforced?
“That is where we need to do more. Having laws in place is not enough; there must be effective monitoring, compliance and enforcement to ensure that environmental standards are upheld,” Oke said.
The event was attended by the Registrar, Dr. Taiwo Olajide; Bursar, Mr. Abiodun Kolawole Adegbola; Chief Librarian, Mr. Olukunle Akinbola Osunrinade; Chairman, Inaugural Lectures Committee, Mr. Femi Ipadeola, as well as academics and other guests.
