The Nigerian government has been called upon to increase the allocation of budget for Science, Technology, and Innovation to enable the country’s economy to thrive.
This was disclosed by Prof. Isaac Aiyelaagbe who is the keynote speaker at the first World Laboratory Day 2024, in FUNAAB with the theme: “Science for a Sustainable Future” in the school premises, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Tuesday.
Prof. Isaac Aiyelagbe a fellow of the Horticulture Society of Nigeria, posited that Nigeria can restore it glory of the agricultural sector through the innovation of science and technology, with action in more investment in science and technology.
Prof. Aiyelaagbe pointed out that if the Nigerian government comes into action by investing more in Science and Technology it will help the country to the top.
He also maintained that without good background knowledge of Laboratory studies, farmers wouldn’t be able to get help when they run into trouble.
Prof. Aiyelaagbe noted that more investment in science, technology, and innovation would enable agriculture to express its full potential, and will enable the country to create more foods, job opportunities, better foreign exchange, and improved livelihood because agriculture will be repatriated and distributed to other sectors.
According to him, “Yes, I think Nigeria can restore the glory of the agricultural sector through the innovation of science and technology, and there must be the will and the will must be followed with action because more investment in science and technology in Nigeria will get us to the top”.
“Laboratory study is the foundation to be able to see, understand, and be able to intervene, it is so basic without a good background in the laboratory we won’t be able to help the farmers when they run into trouble and we won’t be able to advise them to stay out trouble”.
” To increase the budget allocation to science and technology and innovation so that agriculture in Nigeria can express its full potential, which is going to create more food, jobs, opportunities, foreign exchange, and improved livelihood because agriculture will be repatriated and will be distributed to other sectors as well. Prof. Maintained.
Also speaking the Directorate of Technologists and Technical Staff (DITTECS) Dr. (Mrs) Wunmi Abimbola-Okeneye submitted that there is no how science can thrive without the laboratory, and posited that the Laboratory is just like an incubation room for bringing out ideas and innovation.
She maintained that the Laboratory is interwoven with Science, whereby all that comes out of the laboratory needs scientific backup.
Abinmbola-Okuneye narrated that the discovery of the penicillin capsule is a good example when talking about laboratory and science, adding that both science and laboratory have helped to sustain a lot of lives and existence through discovery.
She also disclosed that FUNAAB aims to be one of the leading institutions in the world known for best when it comes to science and laboratory studies, disclosing that the institution has the best-specialized laboratory and specialized equipment that you can’t find just anywhere in the country.
According to her, “World Laboratory Day, a day dedicated to celebrating laboratories and people who work in Laboratories, you know there is no how we are going to have science without laboratories, the laboratory is just like of incubation room for bringing out ideas and innovation”.
“This time around we talk about “science for a sustainable future”. We need those things that will come out from the laboratory and which science will also back up, as I mentioned in my welcome address there are a lot of things that have helped us to sustain our existence if you look at the discovery of penicillin, it was discovered by Alexander Femine, it probably the first anti-bacteria which has helped in so many ways to cure a lot bacterial and saved a lot of lives”.
“Not just about that, we are talking about food, water, and the environment, we need all this to sustain our existence, with science comes into play, and we know that the laboratory is just a kitchen in a home, that is what laboratory is all about to science, without it science is not complete, the Laboratory is an integral part of sciences”.
Speaking on the position of FUNAAB in science technology and innovation in the world she said, Funnab is ranked the number one university of agriculture in Africa and 7th globally, this is to tell you that Funnab is a school of excellent, we are not going to rest in oars on our 7th position, we are still going higher and higher, if not the best, it is should be one of the best you can find in the world”. She said
“We are glad for the effort of the management for the wonderful support they have been given in making sure that the excellence of our laboratory is sustained if not the best in the world, it is one of the best”.
“We have a specialized laboratory in our CADES Center of Excellence with specialized equipment that you can find anywhere in the country, we have a Biotec laboratory and even the laboratory of various departments. Management has been trying its best to ensure that we have the best”.
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