The Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folashade Ogunsola has drummed support for those in academia, saying the country is presently facing tough times and there is a need to optimise and encourage academics.
Speaking at a book launch in honour of Prof. Vremudia Diejomaoh, titled, Enhancing Nigeria Development Prospects, the VC also tasked scholars in the nation’s universities to learn from older colleagues and professors.
She said: “We must acknowledge our heroes for what they have done as their knowledge didn’t stop despite their ages. We learn from the experience of those before us and look to the future, working with the younger ones.
“Many said the university is about students, but I disagree with that, university is about scholars, the students drink from their fountain of knowledge, scholars are fundamental to the university. No scholar, no students and no university.”
“We are here for the book launch in honour of Prof. Diejomaoh, it is not just the book, but the tradition of the university towards academic excellence. The author has planted good seed, that is why the university is remembering and celebrating him,” Ogunsola said.
In his remarks, Prof. Diejomaoh said the book contained valuable solutions to the myriads of challenges confronting the nation. He identified some of the challenges as national disunity, lack of patriotism, corruption, insecurity and indiscipline, adding, “in this book, you will find developmental ideas from different scholars that should be implemented for the nation to move forward.
“Development process requires regular change, productivity and merits, not of corruption that we have observed,” he added.
The Guardian
