Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos has urged governments at all levels to invest in state-of-the-art defense technology, in order to improve the country’s capacity to handle security issues and safeguard its population.
Ogundipe made this assertion on Friday, at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Ikorodu.
He spoke during the inaugural founder’s day lecture of the institution, with the theme “Nation Building Through Innovation, Science and Technology”
The former vice chancellor said that nations carried out such investment to bolster their defense technology and security apparatus.
“Defense technology innovation improves a country’s capacity to handle security issues and safeguard its population.
“Innovation and technology can be very important in improving a country’s internal security.
“It helps to create strategies, technologies, and policies that are effective in addressing changing security issues.
“Countries that invest in science, innovation, and technology are often ahead of those that do not invest or rather invests poorly.
“When we talk about nation-building, we take into account several factors, all of which are now influenced by science, innovation, and technology,”Ogundipe said.
He added that important facets of how innovation and research contribute to Nigeria’s internal security include analysis and intelligence gathering, technology adoption and surveillance, cybersecurity measures.
Others, according to him, are border security and cross-border cooperation, conflict resolution and peace building, training and skill development, and public awareness and education.
“No other country can help us. We need to help ourselves to invest in our security.
“A country’s ability to innovate and use technological advancements is closely linked to its economic development,” Ogundipe said.
He noted that innovation, science, and technology play a critical role in the development of infrastructure, influencing how societies organise, construct, and oversee vital organisational and physical structures.
“These components play a major role in the progress, effectiveness, and sustainability of infrastructure projects in a variety of industries.
“Innovation is a key factor in economic growth, frequently resulting from advances in science and technology.
“New industries are encouraged to emerge through investments in technology and innovation.
“In addition to producing highly skilled jobs, the expansion of industries like biotechnology, clean energy, and information technology also supports ancillary businesses, which boosts overall employment and economic diversification,”Ogundipe said.
He said that beyond the sphere of the economy, science and technology had the capacity to significantly impact social progress and inclusivity.
“Nations can harness the transformative power of innovation to build resilient and prosperous societies by adopting a future-oriented mindset, allocating resources to education and research, and responsibly navigating the challenges.
“Let’s set out on a journey together where innovation serves as the cornerstone for building a nation and moves us closer to a more promising and inclusive future,”Ogundipe said.
Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya, Vice-Chancellor, LASUSTECH, said the founder’s day lecture was to share with the larger society the institution’s achievements and impact in fulfilling our mandate.
Odusanya said that their goal remained to become a highly competitive, much sought, globally acclaimed and world class university.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 67 students with 4.50 CGPA were given 50 per cent scholarship of their tuition fees.
The LASUSTECH vice chancellor also gave one million naira to the best male and female students from Epe.
Prof. Adebisi Balogun, former Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, also gave the sum of N75,000 to the best students each in the five faculties of the institution.
