By Aderemi Bamgbose
Prof. Sunday Ogunduyile, Vice Chancellor, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo, on Tuesday identified science and technology as a panacea to drive Nigeria’s economy for development.
Ogunduyile, a Professor of Industrial Design, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Okitipupa that the university had been equipped with various research equipment, arrays of courses, lecturers and thoroughly bred graduates to harness the state’s potential to drive the country’s economy .
According to him, the quest to contribute its quota to nation’s building is one of the reasons for establishing the institution in the state’s coastal areas, which is the longest in the country.
“The institution was just a Faculty of Sciences when I assumed office in 2017.
“The institution in one year got additional two faculties of Engineering and Agricultural Technology with other arrays of courses duly accredited by the Nigeria University Commission (NUC).
“The Faculty of Environmental Technology and some other courses like Statistics, Aquaculture, Marine Engineering, Marine Science, Geology and Computer Science which would soon be accredited by the NUC would take the country by surprise,” he said.
The don said that the introduction of these new courses would greatly harness the great potential of natural resources in the state.
Ogunduyile said that the institution won the U.S. based Seeding Labs’ Instrumental Access Programme Award of multi-million research equipment in 2020.
He added that Tertiary Education Trust Fund also completed some offices and lecture rooms in the year.
The don explained that the renaming of the institution by Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to OAUSTECH was to immortalise former Gov. Olusegun Agagu, who established the institution gave it a good branding.
“Presently, we are working on accreditation of Marine Engineering, Marine Science, Geology and Computer Engineering; all these are relevant and really embedded in the vision and mission of the university.
“When you look at the Maritime sector, there are job opportunities; in fact, graduates of Marine Technology don’t need to look for jobs even at the international level.
“Apart from that, the development of facilities, building of ships, transportation on the high sea, all these are part of the courses to be offered and it is most suitable for this environment.
“We succeeded in having an agreement with the notable Marine University in Jamaica, Caribbean Maritime University, they visited us and the governor has given us approval to meet with them so we can solidarise.
“Ondo will be the hub of the nation’s technological development and Marine Technology particularly, as we have the longest sea coastline, and there are many facilities along the line.
“Although, all these are capital intensive but if the government will look inward and give us the necessary support, it will hasten the transformation of the state in driving Nigeria’s economy in no distant future,” Ogunduyile said.
He, however, commended Akeredolu for his accessibility and quick attention and responses to the yearnings of the institution’s management.
Ogunduyile also applauded the institution’s Governing Council for being desirous to improve the institution.
He thanked all the staff who had been cooperative and contributed to the institution’s development. (NAN).