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Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, Vice-Chancellor, Igbinedion University, Okada has said that effective research synergy between the academic and the industrial sector will promote national development.
Ezemonye stated this on Tuesday at the opening of a two-day research conference for staff and students of the university.
He said that universities in the country should endeavour to collaborate with industrial researchers towards promoting national development.
The vice chancellor said that the programme’s theme: “Greening Academia/Industry Research Synergy to Promote Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria” was well articulated for the benefit of the nation.
“Academia and industry collaboration remains increasingly a critical component of efficient national innovation strategy.
“This collaboration is germane for skills development, knowledge exchange, promotion of start-ups and spin offs through Eco innovation,” he said.
Ezomonye further stated that the issue of unemployment in the country could largely be attributed to the mismatch between graduate employees skills and industry skills required for workplace performance.
In his speech, Prof. Sani Sambo, former Vice Chancellor, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University described the theme of the conference as “one of the most fundamental issues of our age”
“The theme of this programme is quite contemporary and crucial to the growing concerns about national development.
“The triple helix model contained as one of the sub-themes of this conference aptly captures the necessity of that synergy which is an essential catalyst for industrial growth,” he said.
In his keynote address, Dr Dan’Azumi Ibrahim, Director-General, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion described the conference as timely.
He said that greening academia and industry research synergy provided a pragmatic framework for the infusion of business partnership and enterprise into research and innovation.
“It is pertinent to note that co-design, co-location, co-delivery and co-funding are the pathways to successful academia-industry engagement,” he said.
NAN reports that a ten man Academia Industry Government Board was inaugurated after the conference.
NAN
