The need for a working collaboration among the academia, the government and the industries, to begin to provide solutions to Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges, formed the crux of the keynote lecture at the maiden memorial lecture series of late Prof Innocent Osita Onyeyili, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
The lecture instituted by the Faculty of Engineering of the University, witnessed the unveiling of a book authored by the deceased.
Also at the event held at the Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies, the University management commissioned the Prof Innocent Onyeyili Avenue at the Faculty of Engineering.
In the keynote lecture, titled ‘the making of practicing engineers in Nigerian University System: a task for embedding industrial revolution in Nigeria,’ the guest lecturer, who is the Vice Chancellor, National University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Prof Joseph Ahaneku regretted that youths rush into the university to secure degrees without acquiring any problem-solving skill that can translate into wealth, a development that has made Nigerian graduates unemployable.
He identified the problem with the trainers in the University system to include discrimination and rivalry among disciplines, territorialism and individualism instead of collaboration, lack of foresight to the position of the university as a problem-solving entreprise,wrong perception of the teaching profession as a salary-earning venture, disciminatory promotion of disciplines or idiosyncracies over public interest, among others.
“The division and rivalry among heads of various disciplines in the University system have made it difficult for trans-disciplinary research and collaboration to happen.
“How then can Nigeria be transformed using knowledge-based activities,” he questioned.
According to Prof Ahaneku, the Univeristy system must change their ways and mindset, calling on trainers to drop the all-knowing attitude and seek collaboration and partnership with related disciplines.
He further advocated Apprenticeship Model learning as the way to go in University education, that will help train the new generation of practitioners in the engineering practice with on the job experience.
“There is also the need for University-Industry-Government Interaction, to solve societal problems, in what I call the Triple Helix Model. This wil help to generate, optimize and commercialize technologies, as we see in Universities in developed countries.
“Efforts must be made to recover vocational and technical colleges and refocus graduates towards trade/ skill oriented learning.
“Graduates are carrying about certificates whereas technicians and skill-based artisans are making the money. The experience of the practising artisans must be deployed at the university levels.
“The Nigerian academia must rise and assert themselves in the socio-political and socio-economic reconstruction of Nigeria,” he concluded.
Unveiling the avenue named after the late Prof Onyeyili, the Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK, Prof Charles Esimone, said no recognition is too much for the immense contributions he had made towards the growth and development of the university.
Described him as a man of wisdom, the VC commended the initiative to institute the lecture series in honour of the former DVC, noting that the university will forever remember the contributions of the man.
“We will sustain this practice of honoring persons who make contribution toward the growth of the institution.
“I will ensure that we get an individual to endow a professorial chair in honor of Prof Onyeyili as a way of recognizing all he has done for the institution,” Esimone promised.
Earlier in his remarks, the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, NAU-UNIZIK, Prof Solomon Nwigbo explained that the lecture series was initiated to immortalize the glaring legacies of the late DVC, Administration of the university.
According to him, the gesture is aimed at encouraging selfless service, dedication to duty and diligence in the service of the University.
The Chairman on the occasion, Engr Victor Chiwuzie, who is the Managing Director, ENPLAN Consulting Firm, said the Faculty has blazed the trail by instituting the lecture series, urging other staff of the university to emulate the exemplary disposition of the late Prof Onyeyili.
In their separate remarks, some old friends of the former DVC, including a former Dean of the Faculty, Engr Prof Okechukwu Onukwuili, former DVC Academics of the University, Prof Sam Omenyi and the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ifeanyi Okoma represented by Engr Noel Okoye, a student of the deceased, recalled how the Late Prof Onyeyili rescued a lot of buildings in the University, noting that he showed dedication to his duties, while describing him as a professional colleague, exemplary in his conduct.
The event was graced by the wife of the Late Professor Onyeyili, Mrs Nkechi Margaret Onyeyili and the son, Dr Tochukwu Onyeyili, as well as numerous students and mentees of the late Onyeyili.
